How I Became the CTO of Microsoft WITHOUT a Degree in Technology - Sarah Carney, Chief Technology Officer Microsoft ANZ
"Before I started Microsoft, I hadn't done anything in Technology. I've had 8 years to learn technology, and I'm working with people who have been doing this for a lifetime and who have 20-30 years experience in the space, and that can be really daunting"
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Sarah Carney, Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft Australia and New Zealand, shares her career journey and how she became the CTO without a tech degree; in fact, she hadn't even been involved in technology until she started Microsoft, and it took her just 8 years to become the CTO!
How?
Sarah offers advice on how she used her transferable skills to continue to develop her career, and she emphasises the importance of taking chances and overcoming fear in order to seize opportunities.
Sarah also discusses the role of a CTO, a day in the life and the diverse activities she engages in, including public presentations, customer interactions, and thought leadership.
She expresses optimism about the potential of AI while highlighting the need for responsible implementation.
Sarah also discusses Microsoft's flexible work culture and the company's focus on diversity and inclusion.
Finally, Sarah emphasises the significance of confidence and self-belief in career success and shares her personal approach to building confidence through taking on challenges and learning from failures.
Key Moments
💜 Why it's important to take chances and apply for jobs even if you don't meet all the criteria. "You miss 100% of the opportunities you don't apply for."
💜 How to identify and leverage our transferable skills when transitioning to a new industry or role.
💜 How to build confidence by embracing the possibility of failure and viewing it as a learning opportunity.
💜 Why we should focus on finding roles that align with our skills and interests while enabling us to work on our skills gaps rather than solely pursuing upward career progression.
💜 Why networking and building relationships within our organisation can increase visibility and open doors to new opportunities.
Chapters
03:13 Transferable Skills
05:59 Building Confidence
08:51 Career Progression at Microsoft
15:47 Becoming Chief Technology Officer
20:02 The Potential of AI
25:21 Finding Balance in Technology Use
27:17 Encouraging Girls' Interest in Technology
28:43 Expanding Perceptions of Tech Roles
30:06 The Importance of Hard Work
32:43 Maintaining Work-Life Balance
36:39 Microsoft's Flexible Work Culture
38:45 Building a Successful Company Culture
44:46 The Importance of Confidence in Career Success
49:26 Embracing Uncertainty and Personal Growth