By empowering young and diverse leaders today, we’re not only influencing their paths but unlocking limitless possibilities that will drive progress for generations to come.
As Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Business Applications at Microsoft, Nitasha Chopra is a recognized champion of inclusive innovation. Her career has been defined by a mission to democratize access to technology and opportunity—ensuring individuals from all backgrounds have the tools, mentorship, and confidence to thrive in the digital economy.
Nitasha has led transformative initiatives that simplify complex technologies and make them more accessible to those without traditional technical backgrounds. Her work bridges the gap between innovation and equity—scaling impact through user-friendly solutions, inclusive design, and strategic partnerships that drive real-world change.
Inside Microsoft and beyond, she has championed inclusive talent pipelines, mentorship programs, and leadership development initiatives. At Intel, she led a global initiative to foster connection and inclusion across a 2,000+ person organization during the height of the COVID-19 crisis, grounded in the principle that “inclusion is how we build the best products.” This bold and human-centered approach earned her team the prestigious “Diversity and Inclusion Team of the Year” award.
“When we empower the next generation to lead, we don’t just shape careers—we shape the future of innovation” — Nitasha Chopra
Nitasha’s passion extends into STEM education. As a Board Member of SciTech Institute, she supports the Chief Science Officers (CSO) program, empowering 1,000+ students across the U.S., Kenya, Kuwait, and Mexico to become STEM leaders and advocates in their communities. Many of these student leaders are young women who, through mentorship and real-world problem-solving experiences, now see themselves as future innovators.
Driven by the belief that innovation flourishes when everyone has a seat at the table, Nitasha’s leadership has helped redefine what’s possible—cultivating pathways for future innovators, dismantling systemic barriers, and inspiring the next generation to lead boldly and inclusively.
About #empowHER50 campaign
xThis 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/empowHER50
To learn about Microsoft 50th celebrations: https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-50/
