In 2013 and 2014, before Microsoft fully embraced the cloud, the landscape was far from certain. I led the GSD business at a time when bold ideas guided us more than infrastructure. My team secured the first Office 365 subscription deal with Lowe’s—challenging the company’s traditional model of all-cash, upfront payments. We weren’t just executing a strategy; we were helping shape the very blueprint for a cloud future.
We envisioned a “virtuous three-legged stool”—Azure, Office 365, and Dynamics CRM—not just as a product lineup, but as a transformational model. Marketing teams hobbled together materials to support client pitches that felt more like aspiration than reality. Yet that didn’t stop us. We pitched the dream with conviction, camaraderie, and pride.
The buzz of being recognized by Amy Hood for landmark deals, the triumph of our first government cloud deployment beating out AWS and Google—those moments weren’t just wins. They were proof that what we were building mattered. That kind of energy and alignment, tying historical ambition to emerging technology, feels harder to locate today.
Later, I had the privilege of leading the largest business applications unit in the world, championing Dynamics 365 with an elite ensemble: Bob Stutz, Jujhar Singh, Amir Capriles, Lindsey Zwart, Jamie Tozzi, Dan Jones, Connor Marsden, Mark Nakashima, and countless others. Together with our vibrant ecosystem, we transitioned from on-premises to cloud-first solutions, discovering new ways to monetize while never compromising our commitment to purpose.
There were moments that still pulse in my memory: a page from Kevin Turner during a Dynamics Cloud outage; sprinting to the product team, hair on fire. Prepping on the Atlanta tarmac for Steve Ballmer’s Delta Airlines meeting, knowing he’d ace it—while Katrina Wilson and Bo worked half the night to support me. That wasn’t just business. That was legacy in motion.
I left Microsoft in 2017. Since then, the rise of AI has brought breathtaking progress—but I wonder if the stories of sacrifice, courage, and midnight calls are still honored. The future is bright, but wisdom is found in what came before. Innovation must be paired with remembrance.
I welcome the future. Yet I will always tell these stories. Stories of brave souls who didn’t comply—they pushed boundaries, forged paths, and built foundations that still support us today. Their work deserves to be remembered. Their spirit, rekindled. Never forget!
Written by : Marietta Colston-Davis
