Leaving Microsoft
And since it’s not 1st April, you can rest assured it’s not a joke.
Leaving Microsoft isn’t a decision you can make easily. Working for such a company is a privilege. Working with such an amazing talent everyday is something to die for. Working to produce, deploy and support such amazing products is something to be proud of.
So, why am I leaving?
I have been working on design/deploy/manage/support numerous technologies since I started my career about 17 years ago. While in different flavors, I kept eating the same ice-cream. Not that I don’t like ice-cream. I totally LOVE it.
However, it is time for me to do something else. Something different and new. Something that I wasn’t planning for. Something I didn’t think of actively. But pleasant accidents are part of my life. Becoming IT Pro when by education I am a civil engineer was by accident, not planning. Leaving my home in India to face huge unknown and a new culture in US, wasn’t planned but happened in sudden succession of chain of events, pleasant accident and no planning!
And now this. This new role that came along. New role that is taking me into a huge unknown. New challenges that will take me completely out of my comfort zone. And I was taught in my first week at Microsoft that in order to grow, you must look for challenges that take you out of your comfort zone. I guess I took it to heart!
Microsoft has taught me a lot, given me a lot, cared for me a lot and that will never be forgotten. Leaving such a company earns me a label of defector, traitor and all fun names you can call it. However, I have yet to find one person in Microsoft who actually was serious when they said that. Everyone wished me well, offered to stay in touch and reach out if I ever needed their assistance or help. That’s the spirit of Microsoft.
So, where am I going? Clearly, I wish not to announce that here, however, I would say, unlike popular belief that most Microsoft employees leave for major competitors, or start their own business, for me, it’s not the case. I am going to work for a small company that is my type. Young, energetic, agile. They have a good product that has huge potential. The product that I am hoping that in my role I will be able to make even more AWESOME. Even more successful. Even more respected.
Next question you may have is if I am going to continue working on my passion, Exchange and Lync. The answer is yes! I will continue my lifelong learning of such amazing products and will continue to contribute to community through my personal blog https://www.bhargavs.com as well as the User Group I started few years ago in Philadelphia area: https://www.phillyexug.org. I will continue delivering training at MCM Exchange rotations. And since I am also a certified trainer (MCT), you may see me delivering MOC training sporadically.
So, if you want to keep in touch, I invite you to follow my random thoughts at my IT playground https://www.bhargavs.com, connect with me on twitter @bhargavs and linked in at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhargavshukla.
I thank you for amazing readership through these years and I hope I was helpful in some meaningful way, or entertaining at the least. I wish you well and hope to see you around. Cheers.
Comments
Anonymous
January 01, 2003
Very Inspiring. Good Luck for your new Product.Anonymous
September 28, 2012
It was awesome working with you these past several years! Best of success in your new endeavors!Anonymous
September 28, 2012
All the best Bhargav !Anonymous
October 09, 2012
Best of luck to you Bhargav!