Small acts and powerful voices

A photo of two women standing in front of red lockers in a high school

We’re all on a journey. When you look back on yours, whose faces do you see? A teacher. A mentor. A coach. A supporter. Who stepped forward to help you figure it out, find a focus, and reach for more?

The following narratives are of people who—through their examples and actions, sometimes intentional and sometimes not—empowered our employees to help others achieve more.

Pioneering engineer and the ‘dopest’ of the cousins

As a female black engineer raised in a small town, Natalie Hurks knew the importance of role models and was determined to show her cousin Tareq Humphrey what was possible for him.

a photo of Royce Martin and Heather Dowdy having a conversation while standing in the snow outside their Chicago home.

South Side Chicago dad who helped raise an empathetic engineer

Royce Martin pushed himself hard for the sake of his family. His daughter, Heather Dowdy, now refuses to accept the easy path in her pursuit of technology for people with disabilities.

Jacksonville teacher with a time machine

Eris Northern possessed an uncanny ability to see into her students’ future. When promising student India Powell wasn’t sure of her next step, Ms. Northern was there with a guidebook.

A phooto of Howard Robinson and Richard Thomas laughing and smiling while looking at art pieces in Thomas' New Orleans studio.

Seventh Ward artist who inspired a generation of students

Teacher and renowned New Orleans artist Richard Thomas inspired a teenaged Howard Robinson to take risks, see a future filled with more, and—as an adult—look out for others.

Recognizing those who’ve influenced us

At Microsoft, we’re driven to empower others, to make others’ lives the best they can be. And often, our inspiration comes from those who’ve supported us to become who we are today, as you can see from our employees’ posts below.