The Purpose Mindset: How Microsoft Inspires Employees and Alumni to Change the World

by Akhtar Badshah

New research shows that today, more than ever, employees want to contribute to something greater than themselves. Learn the innovative strategies Microsoft pioneered that created a virtuous cycle of giving and volunteerism that has benefitted the company and fulfilled its employees while making the world a better place.Early on in the Microsoft story, Bill Gates and other key executives met to decide how they would incentivize employees to make a charitable impact. The status quo at that time was to offer some small percentage of your paycheck as a pretax deduction to a charity selected by your company. Microsoft decided to so something revolutionary instead.The Purpose Mindset tells the inside story behind how Microsoft built its culture of giving, including powerful stories from Microsoft alumni who were in the room when these decisions were made or who went on to make powerful change in the world, emboldened by their time at Microsoft.The Purpose Mindset also tells the story of how this culture of giving that has been so successful at Microsoft in regard to job satisfaction, recruiting, and employee retention can be duplicated in your own work life, whether you are a business leader or you are seeking employment at a company that contributes to something greater than themselves.Throughout these pages, charitably-engaged alumni such as author Akhtar Badshah, the head of Microsoft's Philanthropy program from 2004-2014, take readers through the first-of-its-kind decisions that have empowered and incentivized the first-hand accounts from interviews with Microsoft executives such as Jeff and Tricia Raikes, Patrick Awuah, Paul Maritz, and many others.Learn how Microsoft's early decision to encourage employees to support causes personal to them was a key impetus to multiplying the impact.Get insider accounts on the key decisions Microsoft has made along its journey to make individual philanthropy a core element of their culture.See how its culture of giving is one of the key elements to Microsoft's success in attracting and retaining top talent.

Genres: Business

Audio CD

First published November 10, 2020

Reviews

[Sarah Cupitt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing special feels like an ego book LOOK WHAT WE DID

Notes:
- While the growth mindset encourages continual learning and self-improvement, the purpose mindset goes further, urging people to leverage their skills and passions to foster positive societal change.
- grassroots approach ensures that the giving culture is not only sustained but constantly energized by those who are most passionate about it.
- Room to Read has opened over 38,000 libraries, impacting 20 million children globally. Local partnerships and community engagement were key to this success.
- social Venture Partners (SVP), under the leadership of another Microsoft alumnus, Paul Shoemaker, adds another dimension to this idea. SVP encourages donors to actively participate in community work, creating a more engaged and humble approach to philanthropy.

Principles:
- build on talents
- utilise resources effectively
- Impact broader community progress
- foster societal change through movements
- prioritise collective well-being over individual gain

[Joy Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book - very motivating and inspiring.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read. I may be a little biased, but the stories gave me many ideas around how we think through implementing a philanthropic mission differently. Akhtar picked a wonderful sampling of stories of philanthropists that provides clear guidance on what can be accomplished when we move from a growth mindset to a purpose mindset. I highly recommend this for anyone in philanthropy, social impact, social entrepreneurship, impact investing, or corporate social responsibility..

[Jung · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Purpose Mindset: How Microsoft Inspires Employees and Alumni to Change the World” by Akhtar Badshah provides a compelling exploration of how corporate culture, when rooted in purpose, can drive meaningful social change. The book outlines a framework for adopting a purpose mindset—a philosophy that transcends personal growth and success, aiming to create a lasting impact on society. Drawing on Microsoft's example, it illustrates how a large organization can inspire its workforce to embrace altruism, innovation, and collective action.

A purpose mindset builds upon the well-known concept of a growth mindset. While a growth mindset emphasizes self-improvement and learning, a purpose mindset pushes individuals to leverage their skills and passions for the greater good. This approach shifts the focus from personal achievement to fostering positive change in communities and society at large. Microsoft has institutionalized purpose through initiatives like its employee giving program, which began in the 1980s. Over the decades, this program has evolved from a payroll-deduction scheme to a year-round effort offering employees multiple ways to engage, such as:
- Donation matching (up to $15,000 annually).
- Volunteer hour matching through the dollars-for-doers program.
- Events like Hack for Good and microvolunteering.

By empowering employees to lead and innovate within the philanthropic space, Microsoft has built a culture where giving is not just encouraged but celebrated. This ethos influences not only current employees but also alumni, who often take their purpose-driven mindset into new ventures.

The book outlines five core principles that help individuals and organizations adopt a purpose-driven approach:

1. Build on Talents
- Focus on strengths rather than weaknesses to address challenges.
- Example: Roberto D’Angelo and Francesca Fedeli, inspired by their son’s condition, founded FightTheStroke and developed innovative solutions like Mirrorable and MirrorHR, demonstrating how personal challenges can lead to global impact.

2. Utilize Resources Innovatively
- Shift from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset, using available resources creatively.
- Example: Kevin Wang’s TEALS program mobilized tech professionals to address the shortage of computer science teachers, and John Wood’s Room to Read leveraged networks to create over 38,000 libraries worldwide.

3. Impact Broader Community Progress
- Extend your efforts beyond personal or organizational goals to drive societal advancement.
- Example: Claire Bonilla at SightLife used corporate strategies to combat corneal blindness, while Tony Mestres applied data-driven approaches to philanthropy at the Seattle Foundation.

4. Foster Societal Change Through Movements
- Harness the power of collective action to achieve widespread impact.
- Example: Margo Day partnered with World Vision to combat forced marriage and female genital mutilation, and Hadi Partovi’s Code.org democratized coding education through initiatives like Hour of Code.

5. Prioritize Collective Well-Being Over Individual Gain
- Redefine success by focusing on shared progress and equity.
- Example: Trish Millines Dziko founded the Technology Access Foundation to address STEM education disparities, and Andrea Taylor advanced racial justice through leadership roles.

“Purpose Mindset” challenges readers to rethink success, not as personal achievement but as contributions to societal progress. It’s a reminder that, regardless of your industry, your talents and resources can fuel transformative change when directed toward the common good. Empathy is central to purpose-driven leadership. Moving beyond efficiency and personal goals to address broader societal challenges requires compassion and a commitment to collective well-being. Scalable social impact is achievable. Through innovation, collaboration, and a strengths-based approach, individuals can address even the most entrenched societal issues. Corporate culture matters. By embedding philanthropy into its identity, Microsoft has not only amplified its societal impact but also inspired employees and alumni to lead with purpose in their personal and professional lives. By adopting a purpose mindset, individuals can catalyze movements that extend far beyond their immediate circles, leaving a lasting legacy of positive impact.

[Synthia Salomon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Create real lasting change in the world
Make a real difference in your communities
Purpose mindset
Leverage your skills and passions
Social good

“Adopting a purpose mindset is not just an evolution of personal growth, but a call to use one's abilities to make a lasting difference. Microsoft’s example shows how purpose can be woven into the fabric of corporate culture, inspiring employees to engage with their communities and pursue broader societal change. By continuously evolving to reflect both societal needs and employee passions, Microsoft has created a lasting legacy of generosity that empowers its people to make a meaningful difference in the world.

Whether you’re in the tech industry or elsewhere, the principles behind the purpose mindset – discovering strengths, embracing empathy, and working toward the common good – are universal. Embrace this mindset, and you can move from individual success to collective progress.”

[Mir Shahzad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:

Adopting a purpose mindset is not just an evolution of personal growth, but a call to use one's abilities to make a lasting difference. Microsoft’s example shows how purpose can be woven into the fabric of corporate culture, inspiring employees to engage with their communities and pursue broader societal change. By continuously evolving to reflect both societal needs and employee passions, Microsoft has created a lasting legacy of generosity that empowers its people to make a meaningful difference in the world.
Whether you’re in the tech industry or elsewhere, the principles behind the purpose mindset – discovering strengths, embracing empathy, and working toward the common good – are universal. Embrace this mindset, and you can move from individual success to collective progress.

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational testimony to unsung heroes who are putting purpose into action. In a world where global communities are in dire need, the author shines light on what is happening in real time when human capacity to share and support is more than talk. Great read!

[Nasir Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written book with stories from Microsoft alumni on why they left a lucrative career to start charity work and how it has helped shaped their destiny, clearly it is not easy but there comes a time when your calling for high ideas takes precedence.

[Paiman Chen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is getting more relevant than ever.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

To much of a commercial for Microsoft

[Suneet Bhatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

what an awesome shift in mindset

Akhtar’s experience, work, commitment to pushing people toward purpose is inspiring. I use his work in my own class at Rutgers and we’re lucky to have his shoulders to stand on.

[Cristie Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill Gates has always been known for his philanthropy, but I had not idea that Microsoft encouraged employees to be philanthropic with charities close to their hearts. This has created a dynamic that has assisted the company in being able to obtain and retain top talent in their field. Plus, the impact on future generations, our society and our climate is immeasurable. One company doing this is making a huge impact, imagine if ALL companies did this how much we could accomplish.