Karen E. Simpson has dedicated her career to amplifying voices, fostering inclusive cultures, and ensuring women have the confidence and support to thrive.
Karen’s inspiration comes from her grandmother, who broke barriers at GE and reshaped policies to empower women. Taking up this legacy, Karen initiated a movement at Microsoft—forming a pact among women to amplify each other’s contributions in meetings. Within months, the culture began to shift, fostering greater recognition and visibility for women across the organization.
She expanded her efforts by co-founding a women’s network, connecting over 100 women in leadership discussions, career development, and peer mentorship. This initiative led to more women stepping into leadership roles and created a culture of empowerment and collaboration.
Her influence reached across team boundaries when she became a trainer in Microsoft’s DevDiv team’s Allyship program, educating thousands on privilege, inclusion, and how to be effective allies. Through mentorship, she has guided countless individuals—both men and women—on career growth, leadership, and fostering diverse team dynamics.
“Every woman travels the road improved by those who came before her. I’ve embraced a personal obligation to tear down barriers by bringing women together for their voices to be heard and empowering them with the confidence to reach and achieve higher.” — Karen E. Simpson
Today, Karen continues her mission as the founder of a female managers’ circle, a team community where women support each other in leadership. Through every initiative, conversation, and act of advocacy, she proves that when women stand together, they create lasting impact. By breaking barriers and ensuring women’s voices are heard, she is shaping a future where progress is sustained for generations to come.
About #empowHER50 campaign
This campaign celebrates women leaders at Microsoft, past and present, who have been instrumental in democratizing access to technology, opportunity, and growth. By honoring their contributions over the last half-century, this campaign highlights stories of resilience, innovation, and inclusivity. Through digital spotlights, a commemorative coffee table book, live recognition events, and more, the campaign inspires collective action toward achieving equitable societal goals. To learn more about empowHER50, please visit https://womenincloud.com/empowHER50To learn about Microsoft 50th celebrations: https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-50/
