Mary Pembroke helped shape Microsoft’s legacy of social impact as an early member of the Community Affairs team. Joining in 1990, Mary championed the evolution of the company’s Giving Campaign, advocating for employee empowerment and broader philanthropic choice. Her leadership helped shift Microsoft’s approach from traditional workplace giving to a model that lets employees support the causes they care about most. Through her vision and dedication, Mary inspired a culture of generosity and community engagement that continues to ripple across Microsoft and beyond.
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As Microsoft’s Senior Director of Community Affairs, Akhtar Badshah helped transform the company’s approach to philanthropy. Akhtar championed programs like Dollars for Doers and the Employee Giving Campaign, empowering employees to support causes they care about through both donations and volunteerism. His leadership unified disparate efforts into a global movement, fostering a culture where empathy and innovation go hand in hand. Akhtar’s vision reframed giving at Microsoft—not just as writing checks, but as showing up in communities and leveraging technology for real impact. Today, he helps others to have a “purpose mindset” and continues to change the world.
Photo courtesy of Akhtar Badshah
