Curiosity Leads Change

By Laura Padley, PDM Redmond, WA, USA

I used to be a lawyer, and now I have a successful career in tech. It seems like a big departure
(especially after the large investment required to earn a law degree), but it wasn’t something I
intentionally set out to do. Instead, it was my tireless curiosity and passion for learning that led
me to make the switch.

Although I practiced as an attorney with Microsoft, I didn’t know anything about technology.
At the time, there was an emerging technology – Artificial Intelligence (AI) - that piqued my
interest. I was eager to learn more. Long story short, through a determined effort, I have
landed in a new career which I’m passionate about. I encourage you to think more deeply
about the “thing” that piques your interest, and don’t be afraid to explore, research, dig and
learn more. It may not lead to a career change, but you will find it can up-level your skills, build
your credibility, and uncover new opportunities with your partners.

Here are some of the things I did to learn about AI, and are areas to consider if you have
that drive to learn, up-level your skill set, and potentially change the trajectory of your
career:

1.) A willingness to learn is important, but you also need to make the time to do your
research. I found credible sources about AI technology including Wired magazine and
Gartner. Of course, reading about AI made me even more curious to learn more.

2.) Register for webinars or trainings to hear directly from the experts. I signed up for
http://www.aibusinessschool.com.*

3.) Get involved in a stretch project. I identified an AI stretch project and was able to
learn from the sidelines and begin contributing in meaningful ways. This was both
interesting and fun, as I was able to work together with a welcoming group of software
engineers who specialized in AI.

4.) Set goals within your career and figure out where you can apply the new knowledge
or skills you’ve gathered. For me, this led to my transition into a PDM role with a
specialization in AI.

I try and continue to be curious and bring that passion for learning to our partners. It has
helped me gain trust with our PDM corps and partners. I encourage you to keep looking for
ways to generate business value and achieve business outcomes for your partner. For me it
started with a curiosity in AI, but for you it can be something else. With Microsoft’s broad
Technology portfolio – there are many topics to uncover. 
*AI Business School: This is an online school with content geared for business users. It is video based and open
and free to anyone in the world (including your partners). You can earn an AI Business School Badge if you meet
the video requirements and provide the written homework. You will also have to grade someone else’s
homework, which is a great learning exercise. This program can be completed in 10-15 hours.