"If Spotify felt like a startup - fast, scrappy, chaotic but exciting - Microsoft is the opposite end of the spectrum: a super organization with layers, systems, and processes that can feel simultaneously awe-inspiring and overwhelming. Every day in the AI team feels like a video game boss fight. Tasks that might take a day elsewhere sometimes stretch into three days here, but somehow, I've grown faster than ever."
"When I joined, I discovered I was one of the only two Principals in our group. Pressure? Massive 🥹. Some of my reports have more years of experience than me, core business areas are fiercely competitive, and the pace is relentless. My first thought: Okay... how do I even start? The answer came down to one thing: clarity. I needed to understand my manager's expectations around strategy and leadership, then figure out how to translate a big, abstract "North Star" into concrete, actionable steps."
"Speaking up is scary at first, but it's crucial. Don't be afraid to disagree, but express your views calmly and confidently. Avoid just agreeing to keep the peace. Thinking critically in multiple dimensions earns respect. Become what I like to call a "high-quality skeptic": someone who has an independent framework for judgment and isn't afraid to challenge assumptions. Practice debating ideas - it strengthens your voice and influence."
Joined Microsoft Munich as a first big-tech job after Spotify. The Microsoft environment contrasts with startup speed, offering layered systems that feel awe-inspiring and overwhelming. Work in the AI team resembles intense, multi-day challenges, accelerating professional growth despite longer task timelines. The first year produced significant learning in strategy, leadership, influence, and humility. As one of two Principals, responsibility and pressure were high, with some reports more experienced and fierce competition across core areas. Clarity became essential: aligning with managerial expectations and translating a big, abstract "North Star" into concrete, actionable steps. Speaking up respectfully and becoming a high-quality skeptic increased influence.
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