Beyond the Blue Badge

Microsoft Alumni Network

Beyond the Blue Badge - by the Microsoft Alumni Network Microsoft Stories that Inform and Inspire This podcast features alumni who are leaders in business, careers and philanthropy as they talk about lessons learned, overcoming obstacles, finding their bliss and thriving post-Microsoft.

  1. 12/03/2025

    Azure Rising

    How Microsoft reimagined products, sales motions, and ecosystems to embrace the cloud Take a front-row seat for one of the boldest transformations in Microsoft's history—the journey to the cloud. In this episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, hosts Becky Monk and Larry Herb (aka Major Nelson) sit down with alumni legends Steve Guggenheimer, Bob Muglia, Gavriella Schuster, and Karen Fazzio. Hear firsthand how Microsoft shifted from boxed software to a global cloud powerhouse, the challenges of building Azure, and the partner ecosystem that made it all possible. Discover stories of resilience, reinvention, and the drive to democratize technology—plus, how initiatives like Women in Cloud are opening doors for the next generation.

    11 min

  2. 11/06/2025

    Building community

    How Microsoft's campus informed innovation and culture The story of Microsoft's iconic Redmond campus details how a bold vision turned into a tech landmark. In this episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, hosts Becky Monk and Larry Hryb along with guests Jon Shirley, Buck Ferguson and Lisa Brummel take you on the journey that for Microsoft became about more than just office space. It shaped culture, innovation, and community.

    14 min

  3. 10/22/2025

    Changing the world

    Microsoft's lasting legacy of social impact  Join hosts Larry Hryb and Becky Monk to discover how from its earliest days Microsoft built a culture of corporate and employee giving that rippled worldwide. With stories from alumni including Jon Shirley, Bill Neukom, Mary Pembroke, Patty Stonesifer, Dee Dee Walsh, and Akhtar Badshah, learn how the company's legacy extends beyond the technology it creates and manifests in lasting social impact that stretches well Beyond the Blue Badge.

    26 min

  4. 08/04/2025

    Riding the Internet Tidal Wave

    Paradigm shift offers tsunami of opportunities Before streaming, smartphones, and instant access to everything, there was a seismic shift that changed the world—and Microsoft was at the heart of it. In this episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, hosts Becky Monk and Larry Hryb take us back to the early 1990s, when a handful of visionary Microsoft alumni saw the internet not as a curiosity, but as a revolution in the making. Hear Steven Sinofsky, J Allard, John Ludwig, Patty Stonesifer, and Mike Toutonghi recount the memos, meetings, and moments that sparked Microsoft's internet awakening.

    42 min

  5. 05/21/2025

    The Birth of Microsoft Research

    Vision, innovation and the power of persistence In this episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, hosts Becky Monk and Larry Hryb share stories from tech pioneers Rick Rashid, Dennis Adler, and Dan Fay as they explore the untold story behind the founding and evolution of Microsoft Research. From Bill Gates' bold vision to Rick Rashid's reluctant yet transformative leadership, discover how a small software company dared to invest in fundamental research—and changed the future of technology. Hear firsthand accounts of groundbreaking innovations, global expansion, and the "Impossible Things" initiative that helped shape today's AI and cloud computing landscape.

    36 min

  6. 04/16/2025

    The Game Changer

    Microsoft's Windows bet and the evolution of personal computing In this episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, hosts Becky Monk and Larry Hyrb delve into the transformative journey of Microsoft Windows. They explore pivotal moments in Windows history, from the strategic shift to Windows to the revolutionary launch of Windows 95. Featuring insights from Microsoft alumni Brad Chase, Steve Ballmer, and Brad Silverberg, listeners will hear firsthand accounts of the challenges, innovations, and celebrations that marked the development of one of the most iconic operating systems in history.

    43 min

  7. 03/19/2025

    Going global

    Inside Microsoft's expansion journey In this episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, hosts Becky Monk and Larry Hyrb delve into the captivating story of Microsoft's transformation from a small company in Albuquerque to a global tech powerhouse. Hear from key players like Scott Oki, Bob O'Rear, Jean-Philippe Courtois, Orlando Ayala, and Sanjay Parthasarathy as they share their experiences and insights on the strategies, challenges, and pivotal moments that shaped Microsoft's international expansion. Discover how hiring local talent, fostering cultural understanding, and embracing empathy played crucial roles in Microsoft's success across the globe. Tune in for an inspiring journey through the history of one of the world's most influential tech giants.

    29 min

  8. 02/19/2025

    Seizing opportunities

    Behind the bets that shaped modern computing Microsoft's early deal with IBM to provide the operating system for the first IBM PC is noted as a pivotal moment in the history of personal computing. In this episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, co-hosts Larry Hryb and Becky Monk share stories from early Microsoft leaders Steve Ballmer, Bob O'Rear, Scott Oki and Bill Neukom of how the deal came together, the challenges Microsoft faced, the strategic moves made, and the ultimate "divorce" that established Microsoft's dominance in the software industry.

    24 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Beyond the Blue Badge - by the Microsoft Alumni Network Microsoft Stories that Inform and Inspire This podcast features alumni who are leaders in business, careers and philanthropy as they talk about lessons learned, overcoming obstacles, finding their bliss and thriving post-Microsoft.

Information

  • Creator
    Microsoft Alumni Network
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2019
  • Show Website
    Beyond the Blue Badge