Microsoft
I have served under the MSFT umbrella in two capacities: communications manager for the Technology for Fundamental Rights Organization (within CELA) and in the U.S. Central Marketing Organization.
In my most recent role as comms manager, I served in the Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs (CELA) organization, supporting stakeholders and executives in their external engagements, writing and editing internal and external content, and managing cross-organizational projects (such as a SharePoint overhaul and developing comms dashboards).
My primary duties in CELA were centered around end-to-end communications support for stakeholders (business managers, executives, and subject matter experts) in internal and external engagements that maintain or improve or facilitate business initiatives. The motto of our work was “make it make sense,” and that was our mindset in all of our tasks and business outcomes. From the inception of these events (scheduling, logistics, briefing documents) to ensuring there are messaging frameworks and talking points to improve business outcomes. In performing those duties, I’ve also managed the creation of a Speaking Engagement Dashboard, re-designed (brand and structure) our SharePoint site (27 pages), written and edited short- and long-form content (internal messaging Top of Minds and Weekly Communications and external blog posts), and developed and refined other rhythms of business.
As the only in-house copywriter for the US Central Marketing Organization during my time with MSFT, I had a hand in all different types of assignments. The organization was looking to move from outsourcing copy with a third-party agency to bringing everything to a centralized team. Along with the writing and editing responsibilities, this also meant overhauling processes and procedures relating to briefs, internal correspondence, timelines, and file storage with stakeholders and project managers.
My main responsibilities for the USCMO were centered around the ideation and production of web-based events across eight different sectors of B2B commerce: Education, Government Services, Supply Chain, Sustainability, Security, Financial Services, and all things Microsoft Surface. For each event, our team met with stakeholders to understand their vision and customer pain points, then brought that vision to life with copy and design that also matches the Microsoft tone and voice (warm and relaxed, crisp and clear, and ready to lend a hand). Deliverables for these events included copy for registration landing pages, several waves of targeted emails, and organization/influencer social copy for LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit. With this renewed approach, the team saw dramatic improvements in social impressions, event registrations, and ultimately product purchases (in some cases, by as much as 20% over similar events in the previous fiscal year). Other responsibilities for this position included writing and editing generalized newsletter, blog, and social copy for Microsoft in Business. This also included editing and refreshing existing material that was written by stakeholders within Microsoft in Business and the USCMO. Items under this umbrella included long-form White Papers, advertising copy, product and renewal subscription emailers, and landing pages.
