Beyond the Blue Badge

Beyond the Blue Badge podcast host Paul Shoemaker talks with fellow Microsoft alum Ravi Venkatesan. Ravi has spent three decades leading organizations in the private, public and social sectors, across three continents and multiple industries. He was the former chairman and CEO of Microsoft India and founder of Social Venture Partners India. Today he’s UNICEF’s Special Representative for Young People and Innovation, and he’s also the founder of the Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (G.A.M.E. India) and a trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation. Paul checked in with Ravi to discuss why his focus these days is centered on youth and helping develop future leaders. (This conversation was recorded during the early days of the coronavirus outbreak.)

Beyond the Blue Badge podcast host T.A. McCann talks with fellow Microsoft alum and Silicon Valley Bank’s Head of Startup Banking Claire Lee about fundraising during a pandemic. During this uncertain time, it they discuss what’s happening in the market, what entrepreneurs asking for cash need to focus on now, and they even tackle failure and how to know when it’s time to quit.

Brad Chase was part of the leadership team behind the Windows 95 launch, flipping Microsoft’s marketing strategy on its head and helping create buzz and consumer demand for software that changed the computer industry. In this episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, podcast host Rich Kaplan talks with the former Microsoft senior vice president about the risky and bold moves that helped make Windows 95 a phenomenon, the celebrities from Steven Spielberg to the Rolling Stones who hitched their cars to the Windows 95 train, and how success all stems from first having a solid strategic plan.

The job for life has disappeared. With the pace of technology and the pace of change, you’ll have multiple career pivots throughout your life. In today’s episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, host Lora Peopping sits down with Brett Alston to talk about making successful career pivots. Brett has made several career pivots since leaving Microsoft and, as managing partner of RedCloud Consulting, he helps hundreds of others who are making big career changes. He’s graciously talking about what works – and what doesn’t – to help fellow Microsoft alumni have success in their next career pivot.

In this Beyond the Blue Badge episode, host Paul Shoemaker speaks with fellow Microsoft alum Jabe Blumenthal. During his days at Microsoft, Jabe designed the first version of Excel and was the company’s first program manager. Since leaving Microsoft, he’s taken a “systems approach” to tackle big issues, including land conservation, climate change, clean energy. He’s devoted much time to his work with Climate Solutions and the Progress Alliance of Washington among other organizations. Here, he and Paul talk about the importance of finding focus to make a difference, understanding the big picture, and why policy must be part of any solution.

In his first Beyond the Blue Badge episode, host and Pioneer Square Labs Managing Director T.A. McCann speaks with fellow Microsoft alum and Algorithmia co-founder and CEO Diego Oppenheimer. Diego started his company as a side project while still working at Microsoft. They discuss his ah-ha moment, when was the right time to go “all in,” raising money, shifting a business model, decoding enterprise sales, and the beauty of hearing “No.”

Host Rich Kaplan celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of Windows 95 by talking with the men and women instrumental in shipping the software that changed the world. In Season 3, Episode 1, Rich talks with David Cole. David was the general manager for Windows 95. He and his team are responsible for inventing many of the software functions we take for granted today. Learn how a set of commandments, 18-hour days, and a massive beta testing program turned “Chicago” into one of the best-selling software products in history.

Here's a quick look back at some highlights of season 2 of Beyond the Blue Badge. Chaitra Vedullapalli Kathy Alexion Tricia Raikes Trish Millines Dziko Claire Bonilla Lily Kanter Dawn Trudeau and Lisa Brummel For more of these episodes and others, go to https://www.microsoftalumni.com/beyondthebluebadge

Here's a quick look back at some highlights of season 2 of Beyond the Blue Badge. For more of these episodes and others, go to https://www.microsoftalumni.com/beyondthebluebadge

In this episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, host Rich Kaplan talks with Jim Allchin. Jim joined Microsoft in 1990. He’s a prolific computer programmer and engineer, creating many of Microsoft’s top products. When he retired in 2007, he was the co-president of Microsoft’s Platform Products and Services Group. In life post-Microsoft, Jim is dedicating himself to his first love – music. Rich and Jim catch up and delve into what drives his musical passion and the journey to create his last four albums.