In honor of Women's History Month, we put together a special episode of Humans of CSS featuring three remarkable female leaders: Lisa Sinacola, Partner and Worldwide Leader for MLGCS; Denise Rundle, General Manager and Partner for CAPS; and Kellie Green, who just returned to Microsoft as General Manager for Global Connected Support Delivery, or CSD.
They spoke about their experiences in the workplace, the hardships they overcame and the women who inspired and supported them.

As part of Women's History Month, we reached out to Noha Magdy, who had just been promoted to director of Exchange & Outlook in Cairo, Egypt.

It's important to note where Noha works, and the level she has achieved. As she told us: "The woman has to work double to be able to reach the same place that a man can reach."

Noha is also successful, she said, because Microsoft embraces diversity and inclusion and teaches her something new every day.

Smart and soulful, Noha makes a special point of talking about the women in her own history.

Support engineer Frances Early was an early adopter of the customer aligned manager function, or CAM, which is a crucial part of CSS's efforts to serve Microsoft's customers efficiently, professionally and long term. On this new episode of Humans of CSS, Frances talked not only about her rise in the company, but what she has learned about providing excellent customer service. It begins with getting to know the customer what is important to them and what their values and goals are. It continues with getting to know the stakeholders and letting them get to know you. Those relationships build trust, ease problem solving and create success. In her lovely brogue, Francis was candid and full of good advice about how to be an impactful customer line manager and how key it is to build connections inside and outside of Microsoft.

Not long ago, and as part of pride month, we spoke with CSS vice president Bryan Belmont about pride and the importance of being not just a leader, but an ally. During our conversation, Brian revealed a very personal and important connection to the LGBTQI community, and how that relationship continues to teach him not only how to be an ally, but how it has informed his approach to management, and his relationships with the people he works with. It was a surprising, moving and hopeful talk about the hard stuff of family, and of how to connect with colleagues while honoring boundaries. And it was about the importance of asking questions and listening, and what leadership can do to make everyone feel safe and valued at Microsoft. It's a talk that everyone can learn from, whether you're part of the LGBTQI community, an ally, or someone who just wants to understand your colleagues. Take a listen. I'm guessing it will stay with you for a while.

Let's begin with the question. Can you imagine working in the same place for more than 30 years of your life? Uli Homann has worked at Microsoft for 35 years, countless product launches, reorgs, town halls, plane trips. I recently spoke with Uli about his time with Microsoft, the highs and lows and the choices he made, or was forced to make to get where he is now. What he would do differently and some advice for those just beginning their time at the company. And maybe a couple of wine recommendations. The guy loves wine, and heliskiing. You'll see.

Enjoy the interview.

Since the age of eight, David Thornton has had a part of him that is identified as female. Thornton, a CSS Delivery Manager now in his late 50s, has spent all but the last several years of his life covering his true identity, which he sees as female with the name Vicki. Thornton hid Vicki away everywhere and always. As a schoolboy, growing up in England as an officer in the British Army. And as a professional. That suppression and resulting stress started to ease when Thornton came to Microsoft in 2007, where he felt he could be who he was, without worry. Thornton has since become involved in GLEAM, Microsoft's employee resource group for LGBTQI employees, and a strong voice in this year's pride events. We talked about Vicki's childhood, her career, her family, what it means to cover and the cost of that mentally and emotionally. And we talked about how it feels to finally live and work as your true self.