What Do You Like Most About Working for Microsoft? The People

I’m often asked what I like most about working for Microsoft. The fact that I can work at a wine bar or a café, makes me a very happy employee.  The financial pay as well as stock options also puts a smile on my face, but those are a distant second and third reason why I like working here. The number one reason is the People I work with. I’ve never worked with so many brilliant, self-less people at any other organization.

I have a story to tell about one of them that illustrates exactly what I mean.

In 2019, I was preparing to visit Pittsburgh to deliver a hackathon for a customer. As always, I asked my 2 kids what they would like me to bring them back. Usually they would reply “candy” or “a toy” or maybe a sports jersey if I were visiting a city that had a well-known sports team. This time they asked me to bring them back the Mayor of Pittsburgh, Bill Peduto’s, autograph.

I was stunned. How in the hell was I going to do that? And why were they asking for that? They both told me how they had watched the documentary ‘Paris to Pittsburgh’ which highlighted the effects of climate change and the work some of our political leaders, like Mayor Peduto, were leading. They said they were very impressed with him and since I was going to be in Pittsburgh, they would like his autograph.

I was very impressed that with that request and was grateful that I had such thoughtful middle and high school children interested in that. But again, how in the world was I going to pull this rabbit out of a hat? While at the airport I began visiting the Mayor’s website in the hopes that maybe I could request a signature of some sort or at least a copy of one. I was only going to be there for one week so that would be about all I could manage. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any option on his website to request that.

As the days went by, I fell into more despair with the realization that I was not going to be able to fulfill their request. The fact they had asked for something so meaningful like that made the despair heavier. I was having lunch with my co-worker, Stacy Shatlock, whom I had just met in-person, that I really grew to like. She was a great Customer Success Account Manager, very proactive, organized, friendly and the customer liked her very much, which made my job a lot easier. We began talking about our families and I very sadly mentioned my kids’ request to her, just to vent. Her eyes lit up and I literally saw a hologram of a light bulb appear on top of her head.

“I think my husband’s Fraternity brother is Mayor Peduto’s Chief of Staff!”, she replied.

She had this big smile on her face, like Garfield the cat, on the other hand, I probably didn’t, because I couldn’t believe how weird this situation was.

“Let me text him and see what I can do”, she said.

I hope I thanked her, I think I did, but I felt like I just woke up from a surreal dream.

That night back at my hotel, I received a text from her stating that the Chief of Staff had agreed to do this for us. I saw the message she had sent him, how enthusiastic she was to get this done and how gracious he was to do so.

The next day, right before I was to depart for the airport, she and I ran over to the Mayor’s office and picked up two personally addressed letters to both of my children from the Mayor. (I’ve attached both of them below) They were not the cookie cutter print-outs that are usually given for similar requests. They also included a Pittsburgh pin as well as the Mayor’s business card with his email.

I’ll never forget what she said after the Chief of Staff handed me the two envelopes, she turns around and tells me “Now THAT’S WINNING!” 

The fairy tale ending to the story was that I returned home and looked like an absolute rockstar to my 2 kids.

Those are the kinds of people I work with.

Mayor Bill Peduto letter to my son

Mayor Bill Peduto letter to my daughter