Her Story
About Lori
Lori Lamkin began her career with a passion for technology, starting at Microsoft in 1990 in a customer support role focused on developer tools. After four years, she transitioned into team leadership positions, managing groups that grew from five to 100 people, before moving into product development roles overseeing compilers and related technologies in C, C Sharp, and C++. She advanced to Corporate Vice President, leading global teams in product innovation, with her final focus on AI. Lamkin retired from Microsoft about one and a half years ago. She is a member of the Microsoft Alumni Network and ICEOs. Lamkin credits part of her success to being in the right place at the right time, combined with her willingness to embrace hard feedback early in her career and use it for growth rather than resistance. She values trust, customer focus, collaboration, and honest feedback in both professional and personal settings.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lori
01What do you attribute your success to?
Part of it is luck, being in the right place at the right time. Another part is the ability to grow and change. I got some really hard feedback early on and instead of defending or resisting, I leaned in, asked questions, and used it to grow. That approach of seeking hard feedback served me throughout my career.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If you're not sure what career choices you want to make, start dabbling. Get a job or volunteer in the field to get a feel for what people do all day. Shadowing is a great idea too. You don't have to make a lifetime commitment with your first job and you don't have to have the ideal job as your first job.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The high-tech field in AI is under so much pressure with high expectations for innovation and layoffs. The challenge and opportunity is how to create a culture of innovation in a real high-pressure time. Leaders need to shield teams from fear so people can do their best work.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Trust and safety is the baseline. Aligned goals, being customer-focused, results-focused, collaborating with team members. Honesty and feedback are key so we can pivot when things aren't working.
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