About Eileen Rumwell

I've been at Microsoft for more than 10 years. I'm a professional marketer but found my true love in the developer space. I like to think of my work as less marketing and more about communication. I began at Microsoft as a v-dash ... better known as the dreaded orange badge. I quit a full-time gig as Director of Marketing for a small s/w company in Bellevue, WA. I really wanted to work for the Microsoft, the s/w company that really knew how to market! Before joining as a temp, I tried to get an interview at Microsoft for 5 years. I didn't even get so much as a return email from a recruiter or hiring manager. Yet I knew I had what it takes to succeed at Microsoft. They needed me and I needed them to know! So I started in the OCU business unit. At this moment in time I can't even recall what it stands for ... the CU is customer unit. I was in the partner marketing org and I worked with the advertising manager on campaigns. The minute I started the job, I knew I had been right all along. I loved Microsoft - the smart people, all the resources available to succeed. So I started looking for a FT gig. Everyone I worked with got pestered about hiring me or if they knew of an opening. I got lucky. I connected with a gal who was "retiring" at the ripe old age of 30. I began at Microsoft as the Communications Manager in PSS - Product Support Services. I drove all messaging from PSS to the outside world. It was a fabulous place to start ... I understood early on just how important our customers are and how hard we make things for them. From PSS I moved to OEM Marketing. This was almost my worst Microsoft job ... I wasn't a good match for the OEM world mostly full of men and old school attitudes. Enough said. From there I went to the US Subsidiary and worked in Field Marketing. I was one of the interfaces between the field marketing in the US and the product teams. We helped launch programs, products, etc. Next stop was Program Manager for the RD Program and where I found my passion. I thought the job would be a short stint, but it turned out to be a three year love affair with devs. I left when I could no longer find any career growth in the role. I moved onto EPG - Enterprise & Partner Group to run an executive sponsorship program. I had 6 managers in a year ... the team was a mess and I moved on. Next stop was dev audience marketing, where I worked with subs around the world driving strategy around how to increase satisfaction with developers. In 2007 I accepted a job in the Connected Systems Marketing team. I am the Group Product Marketing Manager for Windows Workflow and Windows Communication Foundation. I started in technology marketing at Ashton-Tate in Northern California. Remember dBASE? I didn't take to technology right away, but I loved all the fast paced action and intelligent people. I worked as a Product Manager ... realizing I like the promotional side of marketing better. I followed a man from California to Washington (largely considered initially by me to be the worst state in the country to live in - boy was I wrong as I love it here now) and here I am. I started my working days in New Jersey where I grew up. I worked for the town I grew up in the Town Clerk's office. I loved politics ... but I needed a job I could keep once my political party got thrown to the curb. I worked briefly at Campbell Soup in Camden, NJ. I also worked as an assistant editor at McGraw Hill. Lots of good stuff. I worked my way through college. I went to college for 12 years part time to get my Bachelor's degree. Why you ask? Well, I had my son while in high school. I had to work full time to support us from 18 on. It was tough at times but great character building. My son is the most amazing person. He graduated high school and college with honors, was a star athlete and is a fine young man. My son married his love in August 2007. They are happily living just a few miles away from me. They are expecting their first baby in December 07. I will be a Grand mom! I am married to the love of my life, Jay. Jay has a pre-adolescent son, Nick, who lives with us half time. We have 2 dogs - Louie and Eddie. Lou is a miniature husky, 8+ pounds of fury. He is the most amazing creature and I can't imagine life without him! Eddie is an 9 pound short-haired Brussels Griffon. You've never met a funnier looking or more entertaining dog! I also have 2 cats - Jolie & Kitterton. Life is good!

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