Yesterday Microsoft announced layoffs and my very dear friend and colleague, Don Dodge, was one of them. I tweeted that it was the most disappointing day of my Microsoft career. Don and I have worked together for three years and he is one of the smartest, most professional and well-respected people I know. It was a honor and a privilege to work side-by-side with him. Don and I have had different roles in the past three years working for the Microsoft Emerging Business Team, but our work has always been focused on the Startup and Investment Community. We’ve hosted Angel Dinners, we’ve worked together to sponsor events like TechCrunch50 and DEMO, we’ve done PR together. It has been a blast and I’m a better person both personally and professionally because of it. So as you can imagine, yesterday was a shock and a wake-up call. Thus, this blog.
Several months ago Don suggested I start blogging. He has seen great professional success and realized incredible personal accomplishment writing his blog. I have been putting it off, telling myself numerous excuses: I’m not sure what service to use, I don’t have a good photo, what will i call it, what will I write about, blah, blah, blah.
Today is the first of many blogs. I will be writing about Technology Marketing, the Startup Community and interesting things I see on the web and and people I meet at events. I’m hoping one of my first posts will cover Don’s next chapter. So, @dondodge, thanks for being a great colleague and for motivating me to start writing. This one’s for you!
Well, Thank you Midori. It has been a pleasure working with you.
Welcome to the world of blogging. It is a great way to express yourself, and writing makes you focus your thoughts. It is exhilarating.
We will see each other at conferences or shows. Its a small world...very small.
Don Dodge
Posted by: DonDodge | 11/05/2009 at 12:33 PM
Great photo and great name! I look forward to reading..
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=601539761 | 11/08/2009 at 03:16 PM
Hi Midori, congrats on your blog! It looks great, but I am sorry for the cause of the initial post. Don was a great colleague to me, too, and I am sure he will land on his feet well. When a door shut, another one (or many!) open.
Hope you are doing well in EBT land.
Kris
Posted by: Kris Olson | 11/15/2009 at 08:09 PM
Three years in and we've never touched the foundation accounts. Life is good!!! http://www.outbackbikers.com/
Posted by: Zsam Dota | 03/29/2011 at 08:49 PM