Company: Microsoft
Date: 2014-09-09
Overall rating: 4/5
Employment status: current
Experience level: Senior

20 Years at Microsoft
Pros: When I joined Microsoft in 1992, it was one of the most innovative companies in the world.  Lots of fascinating work with  very talented people who had a very strong drive for results.  I was extremely well compensated with stock options, stock grants, salary and bonus.  I created 8 new products and was awarded 36 patents that generated over $2 billion in verifiable incremental revenue for Microsoft.
Cons: Microsoft's strategy and focus were much clearer in the early 1990s.  Opportunities for personal growth existed everywhere.  Today there are fewer opportunities today for people who want to be major contributors.  Some of this is part of becoming a larger company and reaching the end of the PC era, but much of it is risk aversion.  The PC era is ending.  A new era is also beginning.  This is opportunity.   If you want to be great you have to take chances.  I am all for mitigating as much risk as possible.  However, you will get the same outcome if you keep using the same old strategies.