Microsoft is still real to me – looking back on the experience over the holiday break.

I jad joined Microsoft Japan as a new graduate in 2003.  I had worked there for 5 years before coming to Tuck.  I loved the people, and the work was very interesting.  I never thought my relationship with Microsoft would be this close.  But because I enjoyed working at Microsoft Japan, I decided to compete in Firenze|USA - Microsoft Case competition 2008. 

The case was very interesting.  It was in the field I never knew before, so my experience of working at Microsoft didn’t help me much. But it allowed me to see another perspective and another business within the organization.  There is a real customer behind the case, there can be real impact to the partners with our decision, and it had a potential for Microsoft to take action based on our ideas.  I saw a delicate art in the business which connected customers, partners, and Microsoft.  It is a real business problem – like everyone says – and discussion with the Microsoft executives challenged our mind and stretched our expectations, their commitment was amazing.

Was it different than what I had done in Microsoft before?  Of course yes.  I was in finance looking at the numbers, wasn’t able to get a feel about who Microsoft the customer really was.

Was it different from what we are learning in school?  Yes and No.  Theory can be applied and used, but it needs to be feasible, and needs to be executed at the end.

But was the people solving issues different?  Maybe not.

They are friendly, intelligent, smart, but fun.  Nice people to work with, and nice people to spend time with.

So in all, the case competition itself was tough, everything was on top of all the work we had to do in school.  But this opportunity gave me a great chance to get to know my teammates more, meet some great people from different MBAs, and also get to know Microsoft more.  I also got a chance to know myself more in a new working environment with a new people, which I will be facing throughout my career, yet you don’t usually get feedback on. 

Your passion has brought out our potential – Your potential, Our passionJ

Thank you to Hareesh, Prashant, and Eric for the great team!

And, thank you to the Microsoft team for making it happen.

Yoko Warita - Tuck MBA 2010