For Santhi Thammineni, innovation isn’t just about what we build; it’s about who we build it for.
From small-town roots to the global tech stage, Santhi’s journey has been fueled by resilience, curiosity, and purpose. A first-generation immigrant and lifelong learner, she has spent over 20 years bridging technical excellence with human impact, rising from software engineer to senior AI leader at Microsoft.
Her career spans roles at Cyient, Deloitte, T-Mobile, King County, and Snohomish County, with a consistent throughline: using data and AI to create access, solve problems, and empower others. At Microsoft, she leads initiatives that democratize enterprise AI through agent-based solutions, transforming how organizations interact with and leverage their data. She’s also driven adoption of modern data platforms like Synapse and Fabric, unlocking insights at scale and embedding responsible AI practices at every layer.
“True innovation isn’t measured by code or models—it’s measured by the access we create, the people we uplift, and the lasting impact we leave behind.” — Santhi Thammineni
Beyond the systems she builds, Santhi invests deeply in people. She founded the Women in Data & AI community, making AI approachable and amplifying diverse perspectives. As Co-Director of Microsoft’s Exploring Leadership Program, she helped over 1,500 employees grow their leadership skills, training facilitators to spread learning across the organization.
Her approach to impact is anchored in three principles: building inclusive communities where diverse voices thrive, designing accessible AI solutions that empower more people to benefit from technology, and investing in mentorship programs that nurture the next generation of leaders. Through it all, Santhi is proving that the most enduring innovations are measured not in lines of code, but in the lives they transform.
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/empowHER50
To learn about Microsoft 50th celebrations: https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-50/
