Leadership Unleashed:

Empowering Every Individual at

Every Leve

Heather Cook & Karuana Gatimu

Principal PMs, Microsoft, USA
Your Speakers
Karuana Gatimu Heather Cook
Principal PM, Microsoft Principal PM Manager, Microsoft
Fact
Leadership has nothing to do with
titles, seniority, personal attribute, an
org chart or “the management”.
What is leadership?
The process of influence that
maximizes the efforts of others
towards the achievement of goals.
Belonging
Belonging is what allows employees to feel like they can be
their authentic selves without fear of different treatment or
punishment—and it has a major impact on performance and
retention.
Leadership behaviors
Leadership is a result of demonstrating situational
behavior.

It requires practice, patience and perseverance.

Leadership should not be confused with being an

extrovert.

Some example behaviors are:

Acting with confidence
Owning your voice
Seeking clarity
Analyzing data to support decision making (long vs short
term gains)
Operating with empathy
Embracing the opportunity to make decisions
Developing your craft
Conflict resolution
Sharing knowledge
Team & trust building
Identifying leaders
Do a quick inventory of your professional
environment. Determine the following:

Who in your world demonstrates

characteristics of leadership that you
admire?
What unique characteristics do these
people have?
Are the leaders you admire teachable,
empathetic, decisive or outspoken?
Can you identify introvert or ambivert
leaders in your organization?
Do you have personal relationships with
any of these people?
Developing
leadership behaviors
Identify and prioritize in your
professionall life areas where you can
build:

Active listening skills

Decision skills
Data analysis capability
VolunTELLING skills
Meeting management skills
Conflict resolution
Team building e.g. embracing diversity
Leadership is for
everyone by everyone

Three leadership guideposts:

Lead by example
Lead from the bottom
Lead with humanity
Share your story or
best practice
Let’s discuss
Leadership Resources
Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough
Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brené Brown
Brené Brown combines her research on
vulnerability, courage, and leadership to provide
actionable strategies for effective leadership.

Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make

Everyone Smarter" by Liz Wiseman
The book discusses two types of leaders:
"multipliers" who amplify the intelligence of
their teams and "diminishers" who inadvertently
inhibit their teams' potential.
 Monday’s at Microsoft
with Karuana & Heather
Karuana Gatimu
Principal Manager, Customer Advocacy Group Learn - Explore – Connect In the Microsoft Community

Bi-weekly @ 8am
Watch on
Microsoft Community
Linked
Heather Cook
Principal Manager, Community Success https://aka.ms/microsoftcommunitylinkedin