End of an amazing journey…
After an incredible 22-year journey with Microsoft, March 19th was my last day with the company. As with all good things, this journey too must come to an end. I am grateful and proud of the time I've spent with Microsoft and the opportunities it has provided me.
My journey with Microsoft began in 2001 when I joined the SQL Server-Business Intelligence team. After a year with this team, I moved on to pursue my passion for customer analytics and joined Online Services group, where I had the chance to build and lead a team of data scientists and carry out exciting analytical projects across multiple online services, including MSN Portal, Hotmail, MSN Messenger, and Bing. After a decade with this organization, I decided to join Xbox, where I could gain a better understanding of customer engagement with devices, subscriptions, content, and marketplace. Since 2012, I have been a part of the Gaming organization, with the exception of five years where I also had the opportunity to work with Windows and Surface organization.
I will always look back fondly on my time with Microsoft and cherish the memories of the incredible experiences, friendships, and learning opportunities that I have had. I am grateful to have had the chance to work with some of the brightest minds in the industry, and I will miss the team dearly.
Why did I stay with Microsoft for so long?
People: I valued the diverse and inclusive environment in which I worked, where my coworkers, leaders, and teammates demonstrated respect for one another.
Sponsorship from Leadership: I had a great experience working with Bing and Gaming leadership, who generated excitement in the team and took action to drive marketing or product strategies.
Many leaders to thank here: Yusuf Mehdi, Mike Nichols, Brian Hall, Derrick Connell, Qi Lu, Dametra Johnson, Tim Stuart, Liz Hamran
Caring and Invested Immediate Manager I was fortunate to have two exceptional immediate managers, Jeff Snedden and John Kahan, who provided mentoring, stability, opportunities, and a platform for me to carry out great work for the organization.
Collaborative Partners: I had the privilege of collaborating with many partners who pushed our team to achieve its best, and from whom I learned a great deal.
Many great partners to thank: Abhisht Arora, Adam Fossa, Niranjan Vasu, Ari Galen, Ben Decker, David Hampton, Robert Mathews, Ganesh Rao, John Richard, Kirsten Ward, Carlos Apacible, Dave Fortin, and Boyd Peterson.
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Talented and Committed Team: I was proud to work with a talented and committed team who were crucial to our success.
I am grateful to every one of my team members but would like to thank few of them here: Paul Smolikov, Ashok Savasere, Anup Shah, Sarabjit Singh, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Dean Carignan, Michael Fagan, Quin Ye, Kelly Martine, Teresa Mah, Tom Farris, Serge Laurent, Meidan Bu, Deepak Jain, Poornima Ramchandran, Dhawal Bhatia, Eldon Lei, Manash Majhi, Jim Yang, Sean Choi.
Company Values: I value Microsoft's focus on work-life balance, culture, and helping the broader community.
Do I see any opportunities as I leave?
Struggle for Data Scientist to have a seat at the table: Many organizations do not give data scientists a seat at the table in important decision-making processes. To have a broader and deeper impact, it is crucial for organizations to create a structure that allows data scientists to participate in projects from the beginning.
Perspective with equal weights: When it comes to providing perspectives, it is important to avoid one-sided thinking. By pairing two individuals together, each can offer a unique perspective on key dimensions of a project, using a well-defined scale. In my opinion, there is no need for creative writing here and it should be more scientifically accountable.
Parity in Investment: Compared to other marketing and engineering disciplines, the growth potential for data scientists is still limited. This needs to change.
Right Executive Leader for Data Science Function: A passionate senior executive who understands the importance of Data Sciences/ML function and ready to invest time with the team in driving change in marketing and product should be assigned to take on the Data Science function.
What is next for me?
I plan to take some time off to relax, catch up on readings, and stay up to date with the latest developments in the AI/ML field. I love the momentum and speed with which Microsoft is moving into this space with Open AI. Excited to see amazing integration of AI into Bing and Office, and cheering for a positive momentum for Microsoft, and waiting to see more innovation coming out from Google, Amazon, and Meta in coming months. I intend to spend quality time with my family and reconnect with old friends! I am curious to see where this new chapter of my life takes me.
Nitin- congratulations on completing a massive journey at Microsoft. You affected & changed the professional lives of many people, including one that was my foundation for a career I lead today. Thank you for being part of my story-- and i am excited to see what's in store for you next. Big cheers to you!
Data Scientist
1yNitin, I am sad to hear that you were impacted by the layoffs, but I defineity heard your voice in my head when I read your post. Best of luck to you and I hope you enjoy your time before you begin your next adventure!
Best of luck to you in this new phase of your life and career, Nitin! It has been a pleasure to work with you throughout all these years. You are an amazing partner, peer and human being. We'll miss you!
Chief of Staff - Consumer CMO
1yNitin I fondly remember our time working on Bing. I will be on the look out for where your next adventure of greatness lands you, I know it will be big.