Beyond The Blue Badge

Beyond the Blue Badge host Paul Shoemaker speaks with fellow Microsoft alum Terri Cole on National Philanthropy Day about her work with Social Venture Partners and United Indians of All Tribes. They talk about listening and learning, being an advocate and ally, her work with United Indians, where she derived her passion for philanthropy, and more.

In this episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, host T.A. McCann talks with Kieran Snyder. Kieran was at Microsoft for more than nine years managing several UX groups. She got her start at Microsoft working on the core spelling and grammar infrastructure for all languages that weren't English. Today, she’s co-founder and CEO of Textio, an augmented writing platform based in Seattle. She talks with T.A. about being an “inevitable founder” and starting a company with her spouse. They also discuss diversity, how Textio’s board and C-suite are 60 percent female, and how she’s built a killer culture.

In this episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, host Rich Kaplan talks with JoAnne Kennedy. JoAnne was one of a handful of female engineers at Microsoft in the early days. When she left the company, she became a senior director of product development at MSNBC.com and then vice president of technology for the NBC News Division. Today, she’s vice president of technology at Nordstrom. Rich and JoAnne discuss the landscape for women in technology, the importance of diversity and inclusion and why women need to be advocates for each other.

In this episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, host Eddie Pate talks with Rodney Hines about his amazing career at Microsoft and Starbucks before taking a “coffee break” to start his own business, Metier Brewery. Metier is one of the few black-owned breweries in the nation. Eddie and Rodney discuss how inclusion is a main ingredient for Metier’s success.

In this episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, host Lora Poepping talks with Shannon Huffman Polson about her amazing journey that took, well… a lot of grit. She grew up in Alaska, became the youngest woman to climb Denali, became the first female attack helicopter pilot in the army, did a three-plus year tour at Microsoft, and went on to become an author and speaker to share her leadership lessons. Her book, “The Grit Factor: Courage, Resilience and Leadership in the Most Male-Dominated Organization in the World,” is available September 8.

Microsoft alum Reggie Brown talks with Beyond the Blue Badge host Paul Shoemaker about his passion for education, and particularly about his involvement with two organizations – Rainier Scholars and Ashesi University. They also address education’s role in eliminating systemic racism.

Kai Bond was a serial entrepreneur before he became a venture capitalist. Before that, he was a program manager working with the MSN Mobile team at Microsoft. Now the partner at New York-based Courtside Ventures sits down with Beyond the Blue Badge host T.A. McCann for a frank discussion about challenges of starting companies, the importance of diverse investment teams, and three things all early-stage founders must do when they first meet with VCs.

Brad Silverberg was named P.C. Magazine’s Person of the Year in 1995 for his leadership on Windows 95. In part two of this two-part episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, the former SVP of Windows shares his memories and behind-the-scenes stories of the shipping Windows 95, launch party and his life beyond with host Rich Kaplan. A Champagne party and printing the Golden Master Carnival on Campus: Launching Windows 95 with Jay Leno Lines at Egghead: An emotional response to the public’s reaction Just another language: Localization and creating Windows for a global audience Worldwide phenomenon: Evangelizing Windows 95 around the world and a run-in with a German soldier 25 years later: We’re still family.

Brad Silverberg was named P.C. Magazine’s Person of the Year in 1995 for his leadership on Windows 95. In Part 1 of this two-part episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, the former SVP of Windows shares his memories and behind-the-scene stories of the making of Windows 95 with host Rich Kaplan.  

Beyond the Blue Badge podcast host Lora Poepping talks with fellow Microsoft alum and Glassdoor Chairman Robert Hohman about building companies on the foundation of transparency, how the innovative ideas that led to Glassdoor helped pull back the curtain on workplace culture and identify what REALLY matters to employees in today’s workplace.

Beyond the Blue Badge podcast host Paul Shoemaker talks with fellow Microsoft alum Ravi Venkatesan. Ravi has spent three decades leading organizations in the private, public and social sectors, across three continents and multiple industries. He was the former chairman and CEO of Microsoft India and founder of Social Venture Partners India. Today he’s UNICEF’s Special Representative for Young People and Innovation, and he’s also the founder of the Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (G.A.M.E. India) and a trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation. Paul checked in with Ravi to discuss why his focus these days is centered on youth and helping develop future leaders. (This conversation was recorded during the early days of the coronavirus outbreak.)

Beyond the Blue Badge podcast host T.A. McCann talks with fellow Microsoft alum and Silicon Valley Bank’s Head of Startup Banking Claire Lee about fundraising during a pandemic. During this uncertain time, it they discuss what’s happening in the market, what entrepreneurs asking for cash need to focus on now, and they even tackle failure and how to know when it’s time to quit.

Brad Chase was part of the leadership team behind the Windows 95 launch, flipping Microsoft’s marketing strategy on its head and helping create buzz and consumer demand for software that changed the computer industry. In this episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, podcast host Rich Kaplan talks with the former Microsoft senior vice president about the risky and bold moves that helped make Windows 95 a phenomenon, the celebrities from Steven Spielberg to the Rolling Stones who hitched their cars to the Windows 95 train, and how success all stems from first having a solid strategic plan.

The job for life has disappeared. With the pace of technology and the pace of change, you’ll have multiple career pivots throughout your life. In today’s episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, host Lora Peopping sits down with Brett Alston to talk about making successful career pivots. Brett has made several career pivots since leaving Microsoft and, as managing partner of RedCloud Consulting, he helps hundreds of others who are making big career changes. He’s graciously talking about what works – and what doesn’t – to help fellow Microsoft alumni have success in their next career pivot.

In this Beyond the Blue Badge episode, host Paul Shoemaker speaks with fellow Microsoft alum Jabe Blumenthal. During his days at Microsoft, Jabe designed the first version of Excel and was the company’s first program manager. Since leaving Microsoft, he’s taken a “systems approach” to tackle big issues, including land conservation, climate change, clean energy. He’s devoted much time to his work with Climate Solutions and the Progress Alliance of Washington among other organizations. Here, he and Paul talk about the importance of finding focus to make a difference, understanding the big picture, and why policy must be part of any solution.

In his first Beyond the Blue Badge episode, host and Pioneer Square Labs Managing Director T.A. McCann speaks with fellow Microsoft alum and Algorithmia co-founder and CEO Diego Oppenheimer. Diego started his company as a side project while still working at Microsoft. They discuss his ah-ha moment, when was the right time to go “all in,” raising money, shifting a business model, decoding enterprise sales, and the beauty of hearing “No.”

Host Rich Kaplan celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of Windows 95 by talking with the men and women instrumental in shipping the software that changed the world. In Season 3, Episode 1, Rich talks with David Cole. David was the general manager for Windows 95. He and his team are responsible for inventing many of the software functions we take for granted today. Learn how a set of commandments, 18-hour days, and a massive beta testing program turned “Chicago” into one of the best-selling software products in history.

Here's a quick look back at some highlights of season 2 of Beyond the Blue Badge. Chaitra Vedullapalli Kathy Alexion Tricia Raikes Trish Millines Dziko Claire Bonilla Lily Kanter Dawn Trudeau and Lisa Brummel For more of these episodes and others, go to https://www.microsoftalumni.com/beyondthebluebadge

Here's a quick look back at some highlights of season 2 of Beyond the Blue Badge. For more of these episodes and others, go to https://www.microsoftalumni.com/beyondthebluebadge

In this episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, host Rich Kaplan talks with Jim Allchin. Jim joined Microsoft in 1990. He’s a prolific computer programmer and engineer, creating many of Microsoft’s top products. When he retired in 2007, he was the co-president of Microsoft’s Platform Products and Services Group. In life post-Microsoft, Jim is dedicating himself to his first love – music. Rich and Jim catch up and delve into what drives his musical passion and the journey to create his last four albums.