Hi, it is almost a year since I joined Microsoft – starting this blog was long overdue. I am responsible for developer marketing and community, not your typical marketing job. My focus is on improving the experience of developers worldwide as they interact with Microsoft.

You heard Steve – it’s all about developers, developers, developers!

The programs my team are responsible for are designed to help developers find technical information and solve problems, foster and support our community partners, improving the relevance of our communications, build a relationship with each developer that gets better over time and helps them as individuals in their personal goals (improving their skills, being more productive, etc).

Over the next few months you will start to see some of these programs come to life piece by piece. It is a multi-year journey to turn Microsoft around to understand the world from our customer’s perspectives. I love to hear from developers about ways we can improve.

Why did I join Microsoft?

A couple weeks ago I was entertained with the discussion between Joel Spolky and Robert Scoble which went from who has a better office to why would anyone want to work at Microsoft. So I thought it would be a good way to start my blog if I shared why I joined Microsoft.

Let me start by saying that I for most of my career I have marketed technologies that competed with Microsoft in areas that range from mobile applications to database servers to embedded platforms to web development tools. I have been a speaker at Java One, PalmSource and a coupe other industry events. Why would I switch?

First, because I don’t think there is any other company that has as much influence in people’s everyday use of technology as Microsoft. If you open any newspaper in any part of the world, chances are you will find an article about Microsoft. From XBox to SQL Server to Office and Hotmail, Microsoft is part of the every day job for millions and millions of people.

I love my job also because I love working with developers (which is what I have been doing for quite a few years) and I am super excited about the opportunity –and the responsibility- of being able to have a positive impact on 35 million developers worldwide who count on their technology choices to make them successful and practically bet their careers on a platform on which they invest so much time and energy. This is why I see developers more as partners than as customers.

Third, because in my job I get to do very cool things. As an example, I am writing this as I take a break from signing about 1,000 certificates that will go to Imagine Cup competitors from all over the world. This year more than 15,000 students participated in the competition from over 90 countries. It is amazing to see the creativity, potential and passion that comes from these students.

Fourth, working with (and learning from) really-smart people. I believe Microsoft’s key competitive advantage is its people. Since day one –even form my job interview- it becomes clear the company hires for talent and passion.

So, I will try to keep this blog interesting and I promise to at least try to post often. I would love to hear form you.

Gerardo.