

Microsoft’s diversity and inclusion initiatives are underscored by the belief that diverse teams foster greater innovation — and that inclusion starts with providing equitable opportunities for all of our employees to succeed. We’ve got programs in place, both internally and in partnership, aimed at attracting, recruiting, retaining and developing women.
Our efforts begin early in the pipeline by sparking girls’ interest in technology careers through our partnerships Girls Who Code and Black Girls Code. These partnerships allow middle and high school girls opportunities to learn about careers in technology, connect with Microsoft employees and participate in hands-on computer and technology workshops. We’ve also grown a rich community of employee resource groups and employee networks, including [email protected], Codess and Women Think Next, that provide career development programs, networking opportunities, mentorship and assistance in activities that promote cultural awareness. With programs like these, women from all backgrounds gain the access, resources and communal support they need to build fruitful careers in the tech space.
Recognition in 2020:
Comparably
Best CEOs for Diversity (#1)
Best Companies for Professional Development (#4)
DisabilityIN
Four consecutive years earning 100% score on the Disability Equality Index
Forbes
The Just 100 (#1) highlighting the world's best corporate actors
America’s Best Employers for Women (#129), four consecutive years earning 100% score
America's Best Employers for Diversity (#220)
America's Best Employers for New Graduates (#41)
Glassdoor
Best Places to Work in the World (#21)
Human Rights Campaign
16 consecutive years earning 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation Corporate Equality Index in recognition of our advocacy on our internal policies
FORTUNE
Change the World list (#16)
We believe in what people make possible and we are driven by a mission that is inherently inclusive: empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. At Microsoft, we design for human experiences and needs. To meet our mission, we define diversity broadly to include the many dimensions that make people and organizations unique, and we actively engage their different strengths, experiences, and perspectives to challenge and stretch our thinking with the ultimate objective of discovering how to bring out the best in each other and in the vast array of people and organizations who use what we create. We ask all our employees to play an active role in creating environments where people of all backgrounds can belong and do their best work. Our diverse and inclusive culture sparks the thinking that leads to the discoveries that unlock new experiences and opportunities for everyone.
From cultivating diversity in the tech talent pipeline, to seeking out talent in non-tech communities, to investing in organizations that advance diversity and inclusion in business, we’re constantly looking for unique points of view that can spark innovations that transform how we experience the world.
For diversity and inclusion initiatives to actually thrive in the workplace, transparency is key. That’s why we highlight the demographics of our workforce on our website — to measure the success of our gender equality efforts and hold ourselves accountable for moving the needle farther.
5 of the 12 members of our board of directors are women.
2 of the 4 board committees are chaired by women
3 of the members are racial or ethnic minorities
From 2016 to 2020 the number of women employed by Microsoft grew by 69%
Equal pay for women
Women in the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, United Kingdom combined earn $1.00 for every $1.00 earned by men for substantially similar work in these combined geographies.