KTP Guest Speaker: Rikki Stratford
On October 25th, KTP was able to host Rikki Stratford, an SU and iSchool alum who currently works at Microsoft, for a Zoom Q&A. Rikki started at Microsoft around a year and a half ago but had worked in consulting with Accenture beforehand. She eventually switched to industry, got a referral from someone at Syracuse to begin, and started working in core services engineering. As a product manager, she has worked on the digital transformation of Microsoft and how to utilize technology to support that change. Her main focus was on health and wellness and as a result built a mobile app to allow employees an easier alternative to order from cafes. She also has experience on the windows and devices team and is currently working on the apps that will be preloaded into Microsoft 11.
Q & A
What did you study in college and are you an SU alumni?
Yes, I was in the iSchool. I majored in Information Management & Technology and minored in Global Enterprise Technology. I would say that much of my job is a one-to-one reflection of what we did in class. The iSchool is really great for preparing you for a tech job.
Can you tell us about your time in Syracuse and what activities or classes helped prepare you for success in your career?
EuroTech was a big help. It was a fun experience and expanded my network. It really added a lot to what I do currently as I work with people from all around the world and talk to people from different countries. It really opened my horizons. I’d say the program was more helpful than studying abroad since it was a little more specific in supporting what I do today. I was also involved in IT Girls and still do a lot of work with women’s organizations. The classes I found super helpful were my project management courses. They really helped me transition from my college classes to the real world. Honestly, no matter where you go in tech there’s going to be an element of project management.
How did Microsoft transition into the COVID era and how did they serve you as an employee?
Microsoft is huge when it comes to mental health. We’re even able to take off days for mental health. My specific organization has no meeting Fridays to kind of give us a day off. They really give you anything that you need from a time-off standpoint. We have two weeks for time off and three weeks for holidays and vacations but honestly they don’t really keep track. For parents, they gave up to three months off so employees could teach their kids from home. They even have programs that you can use for gym memberships, Headspace, or any of those apps and recently they upped it and extended the categories you can use it for. They’re super supportive with whatever you need and really opened up the way that they gave us some perks. They really push employees to have a healthy work-life balance and are working to figure out the hybrid work-life balance. Working from home is definitely much more accepted (not that it wasn’t before).
What surprised you most about working at Microsoft after working in consulting?
Consulting cares less about the work-life balance so that was definitely a big change. I’d say the ability to ask questions was also a huge difference. I’m much more comfortable asking questions at Microsoft than I was in consulting. In consulting, you can’t really let your client know that you don’t know. However, Microsoft encourages you to ask questions early. It’s also much more relaxed at Microsoft and they’re more flexible.
Do you have any tips to stay productive when you’re working from home?
I struggled with staying productive at first too. I think time-boxing was the most helpful. I block specific times on my calendar so that way I know what time I’m using for what. If you need to do research, you need to give yourself enough time to focus. I usually block off three hours of my time just for that. You need to set boundaries for yourself to get things done. If you’re a super procrastinator it may help to have accountability so you’re not just dragging it out. Taking breaks is also important. If I do block off three hours for brainstorming, I might start that with a walk to clear my head and think about it. Getting up and getting ready as if you were going to leave your dorm or house also helps.
Where do you see yourself going from here? What are some of your goals?
I’m super vocal about promotions and talking about my career. It may feel weird to say where you’re at but I’m constantly asking my manager how I’m performing. You need to keep checking in on that. The main goal is always to not be stressed going into work and making sure I’m enjoying a majority of my job. One other thing I wanna add is that when networking, always be nice to everyone. You never know who is going to end up at what company and what skills they’re going to get that can help you. I wish I had networked a little more in my actual major. Always be nice and make as many connections as you can. Talk to as many booths as you can at job fairs and get that interview experience. Hopefully you get a couple of offers from places. Don’t be afraid to negotiate your starting salary or bonuses. Don’t go in being arrogant but say you’re looking for something competitive. Just say you want a fair offer and make sure not to pigeon hole yourself into a number. I’d also think a lot about stock options. Pay attention to all those numbers and the benefits. Don’t be afraid to negotiate and make sure to network with recruiters. You don’t need to be looking for a job but just show interest. Build as many connections as you can while being as nice as possible. Don’t ghost people either - just do what you can!