Goodbye Microsoft, Hello Caradigm

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein.

imageI am moving on. I am leaving Microsoft and joining Caradigm, a Microsoft/GE joint venture, as security engineer. I won’t be updating this blog going forward. I will keep blogging on my personal blog at www.PracticeThis.com.

I was with Microsoft for 8 years, 6 years as a Principal Consultant with MCS (Microsoft Consulting Services) in the field working with enterprise customers and 2 years as Senior Programming Writer in Server and Cloud Division creating content for identity related technologies – WIF, AD FS, ACS, Graph API – and how they fit in the cloud dev story.

Here are few highlights related to my tenure at Microsoft.

Principal Consultant at Microsoft Consulting Services (2004 - 2010)

  • On-hire took on struggling big project (hundreds of billable hours) and drove to customer’s success and as a result signing up for another three years retainer.
  • Created and delivered Security Engineering delivery kit, generated pipeline to allow to hire two more security consultants.
  • Created and delivered Performance Engineering delivery kit, generated pipeline to help another consultant to get off the bench beyond my utilization and capacity.
  • Received WW Services CTO award for services community contribution in security engineering space.
  • 6 years of utilization consistently above the target without burnout. This is how (slides avail here).
  • Contributed for several patterns&practices guides: Improving Web Services Security, Team Development with Visual Studio Team Foundation Server, A Guide to Claims-Based Identity and Access Control (2nd Edition)
  • Made ton of friends at Microsoft, with Customers, and within the Industry.

Sr. Programming Writer at Server and Cloud Division (2010 - 2012)

Things I Have Learned

This is partial list of things I have learned during my tenure at Microsoft:

  • How to apply proven engineering practices
  • How to ask cutting questions
  • How to ask for effective feedback and give one
  • How to assess architecture, code, and deployment of an app
  • How to avoid paralysis by analysis
  • How to be ahead of the pack
  • How to be aligned with business
  • How to be always prepared to move on
  • How to build a knowledge map
  • How to build commitments and deliver on it
  • How to build network of v-peers using WIIFM
  • How to carry out a simple message to the masses about complex topic
  • How to coach/mentor and be coached/mentored
  • How to cope with tough people
  • How to cope with tough situations
  • How to deliver value incrementally
  • How to discover latent needs
  • How to distinguish doing vs. achieving and focus on the later
  • How to drive execution forward
  • How to effectively communicate on emails and verbally
  • How to get in the game quickly
  • How to give effective presentation
  • How to hold effective meetings
  • How to identify and avoid drainers and stick with catalysts
  • How to invest time in technology that matters
  • How to know what’s hot and what’s not
  • How to listen to customer needs
  • How to manage conflict
  • How to manage emails
  • How to manage energy
  • How to manage information
  • How to manage time
  • How to manage up (vs. kiss up)
  • How to win hearts and minds optimizing around usefulness and usability
  • How to plan and deliver daily, weekly, monthly, and annually
  • How to prepare to interview (as interviewer and interviewee)
  • How to read the signs time to move on
  • How to reduce friction
  • How to sell an idea to difference audiences
  • How to set clarity on vision, mission, values, deliverables, execution
  • How to share information effectively
  • How to use social media to collect feedback and drive adoption
  • How to write sample code that others can use effectively and efficiently
  • How to write effective guidance

Thank you, Microsoft, and thank you all who helped and inspired me along the way.

My LinkedIn profile is here. Connect with me. Recommend me.