- Now it is them.
In the ever-evolving landscape of the tech industry, the impact of major organizational shifts often goes beyond the immediate turmoil. This year, as several hyperscalers and large tech companies announced significant layoffs, a rather unspoken aspect of our business has become increasingly relevant to thousands of professionals. Though my circumstances differed, the sentiment remains: you never truly stop working for a company this size because if you did, you’d have to admit that you are no longer an agent of the platform, but rather one of its partners. It feels exactly like the defeat it is.
As a former Microsoft employee, I understand that much of our perceived value stems from intimate knowledge of the company’s inner workings. I tried to make it very clear to my new boss that I was applying as an experienced professional eager to contribute and elevate the team I would join, not as a Microsoft alumnus. This proved more challenging than anticipated.
Microsofts infamous three-letter acronyms, the secret knowledge presumed to be in my possession, and the revered corporate practices often placed me in an uncomfortable spotlight. Adding to the complexity, some of my new colleagues are also former Microsoft employees, aware of the lingering affiliation that subtly influences our professional identities.
I’ll be perfectly honest: working alongside my former colleagues is a double-edged sword. It’s comforting, but it also comes with a generous amount of pain. So does visiting the HQ at Munich to talk about our strategy for the next year, „our strategy“ inadvertently including Microsoft, highlighting the deep-seated connection that’s hard to shake off. Now it is „them“.
Emotionally transitioning to a company less known to the world, like the one my mother wouldn’t recognize, isn’t easy. This is not a thing of vanity: it’s about leverage and impact. It’s about redefining my professional identity, grappling with preconceived notions, and carving out a space where past experiences enrich future contributions. It’s a continuous process of convincing and being convinced that the value I bring transcends the easily recognisable brand name.
Microsoft offered me – offered us – the leverage of a platform. What I might have at my hands, currently, is an opportunity for impact. Perhaps, one day, we might return with the skill to combine both.