How curiosity is transforming human resources, Learning From Leaders, Episode 3

All too often curiosity gets a bad rap. Yet where would we be without it? That little voice that asks “how” and “why” gave us everything from fire to social media.  

The urge to learn is at the heart of the Microsoft thought leadership series, Learning From Leaders. In this episode, Katie Martell’s conversation with Yvette White, General Manager of Human Resources at Microsoft US, gets right into the power of being curious every day. 

White has been with Microsoft for over two decades and she talks about how she has watched the company evolve over her career as the world entered the digital era. 

“Watching us grow up and understanding our purpose and how we need to make the world a better place has just meant a lot to me,” says White. 

White’s journey has included watching Microsoft look inward and change from being known as a company of know-it-alls to embracing a deep curiosity as “learn-it-alls.” One aspect of being a learn-it-all means practicing thoughtful listening, where people aren’t just waiting for their turn to talk but really taking the time to hear and understand others. That particular goal has even led to using games to teach people how to be better listeners. The end result is creating new opportunities for ideas and making people feel included. 

Along the way, White has seen other transformations including the changing nature of the workforce which today has brought together five generations of employees at Microsoft. Part of her mission now is to make sure that people from all these generations have a sense of purpose that aligns with Microsoft’s mission of empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.  

Visit aka.ms/microsoftinHR to learn more about modern HR at Microsoft.  

Learning From Leaders is a Microsoft thought leadership series of in-depth conversations with executives at firms who are facing the challenges of the digital age head-on. Each episode features insight from leaders whose clear vision of the future is guiding them to a path of embracing change, made possible by a mindset of continual learning. 

Listen to all episodes of the Learning from Leaders podcast: iTunes | Overcast | Soundcloud