Deb Cupp, President of Microsoft Americas, shares her journey to becoming a female leader in tech and discusses the importance of teamwork, leadership, and diversity on boards.
The importance of culture, authenticity, and arranger-style leadership in choosing the right organization and placing people in positions to thrive.
The significance of diversity, inclusion, and allyship in fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for girls in STEM and improving the representation of women in senior leadership and board positions.
Deep dives
Deb Kup's Career Journey
Deb Kup, the president of Microsoft Americas, shares her career journey, starting from selling business forms to her current role. She emphasizes the importance of culture and authenticity in choosing the right organization. Deb highlights the significance of teams, being an arranger, and placing people in positions to thrive. She also emphasizes the importance of being a curious leader and accountability for both successes and failures.
Diversity, Inclusion, and Allyship
Deb discusses the importance of diversity and inclusion, both from a moral and business perspective. She stresses the need for intentionality and accountability in organizations, making it everyone's responsibility to foster diversity and ensure inclusive practices. Deb also emphasizes the power of allyship and how everyone can contribute by supporting and promoting diverse talent.
Retaining Women in STEM
Addressing the challenge of retaining girls in STEM, Deb suggests early exposure to technology careers and mentorship programs. She emphasizes the need to create a supportive and inclusive environment for girls and stresses the role of education systems, teachers, and schools in retaining girls' interest in STEM.
Board Service and Women in Leadership
Deb demystifies serving on boards, highlighting the different types of boards and the responsibilities involved. She emphasizes the importance of culture fit when considering board opportunities and the need for accountability and support as a board member. Deb also encourages organizations to improve the representation of women in senior leadership and board positions through intentional allyship and actively recommending qualified women for board opportunities.
Deb Cupp, President of Microsoft Americas, joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Deb is responsible for delivering Microsoft's entire product and services portfolio to customers in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. As a customer-obsessed technology executive, she wants to accomplish things people say can't be done. Deb gravitates towards complex challenges and is at her best when working intensely with customers to solve their most vexing problems. With a deep commitment to employee mentorship and development, she strives to make a lasting contribution to people's careers and lives.