The Insider's Guide to Innovation at Microsoft

(Hardback)

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In this unique guide, youre not just reading about innovationyou're learning how to do it from the people behind some of the biggest breakthroughs of the last 50 years at one of the most influential and valuable companies in the world.

Are there innovation truisms that hold from one initiative to the next Are there strategies that appear again and again in the success stories of businesses as varied as gaming and cloud infrastructure Are there behaviors common to creative leadership in every role, from research to sales And if these patterns exist, could they be distilled into teachable practices These are the questions Dean Carignan and JoAnn Garbin, two senior innovation leaders at Microsoft, set out to answer.

The Insiders Guide to Innovation at Microsoft reveals the patterns behind Microsofts biggest wins and lossesfrom the Xbox revolution to the Windows Mobile miss and the unexpected rise of Bing in AI. Based on dozens of interviews only fellow Microsofties could secure, this book shares behind-the-scenes stories brimming with insights and proven practices that transcend time and technology.

Author Bio

Dean Carignans career spans international economic development, startup ventures, and strategic roles in technology. An alumnus of Georgetown University and INSEAD, he was a charter member of McKinsey & Companys advanced technology practice. During his 20 years at Microsoft, he has guided new businessesincluding the early internet division, Xbox, and multiple AI effortsthrough the critical growth phases to their first billion dollars in revenue. Most recently, Dean has focused on leading AI innovations within Microsoft Research and the Office of the Chief Scientist. His intrapreneurial spirit, deep institutional knowledge, and expansive internal network made the behind-the-scenes perspective of The Insiders Guide to Innovation at Microsoft possible.

JoAnn Garbin is a sustainability and technology entrepreneur with a 25-year track record of leading teams from nothing to something to scale, creating numerous innovative products and profitable businesses. During her tenure as Director of Innovation in Microsofts cloud business, she guided her team in developing billion-dollar opportunities, including the Regenerative Datacenter of the Future. In 2024, she founded Regenerous Labs, a collaboration committed to creating cross-sector transformations. JoAnn is an active alumnus of Villanova University, where she studied mechanical engineering and philosophy. Her fresh eyes and thought leadership were instrumental in driving novel insights into The Insiders Guide to Innovation at Microsoft.