Hi, I’m Allison

Microsoft Corporation – Redmond, WA

2020–2024

I began my full-time career at Microsoft, where I gained experience across marketing, executive communications, and business monetization strategy. My journey spanned four roles, culminating in my final position as Communications Manager for the Chairman and CEO of Microsoft during the era of AI. 

Key Experiences:

CEO Communications Manager (July 2023 – June 2024)

• Orchestrated cross-company collaboration with global country leaders, managing CEO visits to MEA, APAC, and Europe. Streamlined the team onboarding process by developing a comprehensive toolkit for global communications managers, featuring FAQs, templates, and exemplary models from past visits, improving overall team efficiency.

• Enhanced Leadership Summit event attendance and feedback collection from 350+ Executive Staff community through strategic timing of pre- and post-event communication and feedback requests, achieving 95% participation and a 600% YOY increase in completed responses; Evaluated and presented key learnings to senior leadership to inform the 2025 strategy.

• Reframed the weekly Microsoft Board of Directors Update process by editing content based on input from global communications managers and delegating external sourcing to three WE Communications vendors, enabling timeline and accurate updates on key company news and industry developments while reducing preparation time by 20%.

• Analyzed viewer behavior and feedback from flagship CEO keynotes, including Microsoft Build, Inspire, and Ignite. Developed and presented a formal data recap highlighting viewer engagement, positive sentiment, and areas of improvement for the CEO Communications Team to consider enhancing content delivered to millions of global viewers.

Research, Insights, and Communities Manager for the Chairman and CEO of Microsoft (October 2022 – July 2023)

• Sourced and researched over 20 news articles, research reports, and expert opinions daily, curating a comprehensive view of industry shifts and global macro trends for the CEO, keeping him abreast of topics related to Microsoft’s emerging AI strategy initiatives, including AI and ML research and development, economics, education, accessibility, and sustainability.

• Synthesized in-depth research on Generation Z, delivering insightful presentations that enhanced the Office of the CEO team’s understanding of this key demographic, both internally and externally, to increase Gen Z AI engagement.

• Served as a docent for over fifty leaders at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, guiding them through an immersive metaverse experience of the Global Collaboration Village in partnership with Accenture and the World Economic Forum.

Business Planner for Security, Compliance, Identity, and Management (SCIM) (September 2021 – October 2022)

• Drove the inclusion of SCIM products across Education, Frontline Workers, Government, and Non-Profit segments through data-driven strategic pricing recommendations presented to senior leadership, mitigated compliance adoption issues for a $1.7B business unit, shortened SKU launch lead times, and automated government launches.

Relationship Marketing Manager for Azure (August 2020 – September 2021)

• Optimized targeted campaigns, webinars, and refreshed assets, enhancing accessibility features by 37% and increasing Azure conversions by 2.3 points. These efforts resulted in reduced budget expenditure and significantly improved customer experience.

In addition to my core roles, I served as Chair of the Internal Connections Committee for Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) Puget Sound in FY24, focusing on intentional employee connections and mentorship across the company.

My foundation in storytelling was laid in high school, where I joined the Digital Media Academy and began reporting school news. That early exposure sparked my curiosity in journalism and led to my first internship experience—planting the seeds for what would become a career rooted in journalism with an emphasis in strategic communication. At the University of Missouri, Columbia, I deepened that passion through hands-on roles across campus and in the industry, interning at advertising agencies, media companies, leadership institutes, and technology companies. Before starting my full-time career, I also had the opportunity to support the next generation as a Digital Marketing Teaching Assistant, helping global students based in the United States and South Africa gain real-world experience and build confidence in their work.

• iXperience | Digital Marketing Teaching Assistant & Internship Coach (May 2020 – August 2020)

• Microsoft | Product Marketing Manager Intern (May 2019 – August 2019) 

• International Radio and Television Society Fellow: CNN – Great Big Story | Content Partnerships & News Solutions Intern (June 2018 – August 2018)

• The Novak Leadership Institute | Marketing, PR & Analytics Intern (January 2018 – May 2018) 

• Louis Carr Internship Foundation Fellow: Walton Isaacson Multicultural Advertising Agency | Strategy Intern (June 2017 – July 2017) 

• 104.1 KRBE Houston’s #1 Hit Radio Station | Promotions Staff (June 2015 – August 2016) and Intern (October 2014 – May 2015)

• Hightower High School | Digital Media Academy 

The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

MBA Candidate 

My path to business school began through the Moelis Advance Access Program, which granted me deferred admission to Wharton after four years of professional experience. That early acceptance gave me the space to be intentional in shaping my career by building a strong foundation in marketing, executive communications, and business planning strategy before returning to the classroom.

Now, as a Joseph Wharton Fellow, I’m expanding my business and financial acumen while exploring new industries and leadership development programs. I’m focused on how to apply the skills learned through the rigorous program in a more global, strategic marketing capacity post business school. 

The University of Missouri-Columbia

Bachelor of Journalism, Strategic Communication

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Management

At the University of Missouri-Columbia, I began my undergraduate journey studying Radio/Television Reporting and Anchoring, but shifted during my sophomore year to focus on Strategic Communication and added a degree in Business Management. That pivot opened the door to a broader exploration of storytelling, technology, and business. Outside the classroom, professional development programs like Management Leadership for Tomorrow’s Career Prep Program, the Executive Leadership Council’s Honors Symposium, Stanford Future Leaders, and Google BOLD Immersion introduced me to the business world and expanded my understanding of the pathways available after graduation.

On campus, I was deeply involved in communities that shaped my leadership, service, and commitment to supporting the next generation of Mizzou graduates. I coordinated media tours to New York and Washington, D.C. through the National Association of Black Journalists. I was initiated into the Epsilon Psi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and began my service on the National Membership Services Committee. As a scholar and intern with the Novak Leadership Institute, I learned the foundations of strategic communication leadership and the principle of “lead by taking people with you.” I also served on the Mizzou Alumni Association Student Board and worked in Mizzou Admissions, where I connected with prospective students and traveled the country to share my story and help others find their path to Mizzou.

Giving back through time, mentorship, and resources has been a core part of who I am since adolescence. I’m especially passionate about two areas that shaped my early development: arts and culture, and education.

The performing and visual arts community raised me. They gave me the tools to express myself with confidence and creativity, skills I still rely on today in writing, speaking, and photography. Equally, I’ve seen how education can expand minds, unlock opportunity, and change the trajectory of someone’s life.

Rising up and reaching back to impact these areas will remain consistent throughout my career, and I look forward to the extended impact I will be able to have further down the line.