Eric was my first and the longest mentor in my Microsoft career. I have known Eric for over 20 years. I first met Eric through his class for coaching engineering managers. I found instant connection with Eric and felt he understood my struggles and felt safe and encouraged to get his advice. As my career grows, I have often used Eric as my sounding board and bounced off different leadership challenges. What I remember the most and probably his best advice to me is: “As a female in tech industry, you already stood out, so why try to blend in. Be comfortable with who you are, as that’s the only advantage you have over your male colleagues by standing out.”
I found instant connection with Eric and felt he understood my struggles and felt safe and encouraged to get his advice.
