People who inspire

Great stories are memorable. Microsoft stories focus on people. We reveal their lives, challenges, and achievements, as well as the people and technologies that help them along the way.

These are stories about people of action. They have the ambition to turn ideas into reality, accomplish more, and change lives. They’re the doers—the people who start things, move the world forward, and inspire others.

Chandani Doshi, Jialin Shi, Bonnie Wang, Charlene Xia, Tania Yu and Grace Li of Team Tactile stand with Paul Parravano

Touch of brilliance

On a mission to make braille technology accessible to all, Team Tactile is working to revolutionize the industry with a text-to-braille converter that will make a real-world impact—all for less than $500.

Business of hope: Sequence empowers a community

Ariela Suster created Sequence with the vision of employing at-risk youth to create handcrafted products, while giving them skills to help break the cycle of violence in their native El Salvador.

Meet Franz Gastler, Founder of Yuwa

Through soccer and school, Yuwa empowers girls to choose their own futures in one of the world’s most challenging regions: Jharkhand, India.

Carlo Van De Roer, an experimental photographer from New Zealand

Carlo Van de Roer: One moment. Multiple perspectives.

Photographer and technologist Carlo Van de Roer is pushing the boundaries of photography, experimenting with it as a way to examine the world around us and how we perceive it.

Collete Davis powers her racing career on passion and drive

Collete Davis has raced for Red Bull, negotiated endorsements, hosted a TV show, and advocated for girls pursuing STEM. At 23, she finds success comes down to one thing: believing in yourself.

Easton sitting in workspace, holding prototype prosthetic arm

Easton LaChappelle builds robotic technology with heart

21-year-old Easton LaChappelle has spent six years creating artificial limb technology that could change the lives of people around the world – and it all started with the story of one girl.

Wanderson sitting against wall smiling with three children for the camera

Changing the future for Brazilian youth through tech education

Digital literacy classes introduced Wanderson Skrock to a world of opportunity. Twice held at a juvenile detention center, he now enables at-risk youth in Brazil to learn life-changing tech skills.

Meet Mikaila Ulmer, bee advocate and entrepreneur

Mikaila Ulmer – bee ambassador, student, and CEO of Me & the Bees Lemonade – uses technology to run her business, stay connected between school and PR events, and save the world, bee by bee.

What does it take to summit 50 peaks in 50 days?

Determination, planning, technology, and a dedicated team. Follow Melissa Arnot and Maddie Miller’s journey as they achieve a world record in the 50 Peaks Challenge.

How the Dostals turned a pastime into a purpose

With a little elbow grease, this pair of accidental entrepreneurs took an unconventional hobby and turned it into a business of sustainable products.