Microspotting gets the lowdown on the unexpected people, places and things behind the company you know as Microsoft.
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Geek in question: Shannon Loftis
Job title: Studio Head – Good Science Studio
Shannon Loftis can barely walk ten steps on campus without someone waving to her, saying hello or shouting her name. Since starting as a temp at Microsoft in 1992, Shannon has spent almost 20 years rising through the ranks of gaming and making more than a few friends and admirers along the way.
As the head of the company’s prestigious Good Science Studio, her team was tasked with creating the original games for Xbox Kinect. Good Science’s first release was Kinect Adventures, which shipped with every first-generation Kinect.
I met up with Shannon to find out the secret of her ongoing success in one of the most desirable and competitive areas in the tech industry.
How did you get your start in gaming?
In the mid 90s, I was doing database design and project management for Microsoft. The story I heard was that Bill Gates was really into playing online bridge and decided that we should have a version of the game on the then-emerging technology of MSN.
I came to games to work on that project, which evolved into a virtual card table, which evolved into an online gaming service, which evolved into a lot of other new things. At the same time, Microsoft was ramping up in sports games, flight simulation games, and was inventing new ways of PC gaming.
You must have seen gaming change quite a bit since then.
Gaming is big business these days. It is huge compared to other types of entertainment - even movies. The industry has a lot of creative brilliance and with Kinect we are really pushing the boundaries of technology. The technology is just so much more powerful now, and we can do so much more for people.
While some people dismiss gaming as too violent or just for kids, there is much more to it than that. It’s critical work. Entertainment is a fundamental human need, and gaming is a great way to give people a moment of pleasure and enjoyment in an otherwise stressful day. Life gets faster and faster paced and interactive entertainment is a great release.
There are a lot of other game studios out there. Why have you stayed with Microsoft?
I fell in love with the culture and still find it intoxicating that everyone around is so smart and is somebody you can learn from.
That and Microsoft’s huge range of opportunities. You never find yourself at a dead end here. There’s always something new and exciting and the company keeps evolving. For example, it is the only company that could pull off something like Kinect.
How did Good Science start?
A bunch of people started working on Kinect when it was still “Project Natal” back at the end of ‘08. All that we had at that point was a rudimentary camera duct-taped to a very expensive PC with a high-end graphics card. It was up to us to turn that into a consumer-friendly product.
I was working for Microsoft in the United Kingdom at the time and the company asked me to move back to Redmond to start Good Science in ‘09. Our goal was to figure out what kinds of experiences were best to introduce Kinect to the world.
And how did you structure the studio?
Good Science bridges the gap between incubation and research. The goal was to make a team of flexible creative generalists. We wanted to find the best way to introduce the world to full-body, no controller gaming and no-barriers UI. Hence, Kinect Adventures. And we’ve got some great new stuff in store too.
How many people work at the studio?
The size of Good Science is wildly variable as it expands and contracts depending on the projects at hand. At the smallest it can be 45 people and at the largest it is about 75.
So, it’s like its own startup within Microsoft?
Microsoft is a fairly fractal company, so teams must know how to stand on their own. Good Science has a ton of creative freedom, like a startup, but we’re able to tackle big challenges and boldly move forward with the support of Microsoft.
Unlike a lot of startups, we have the focus and depth to make really big bets.
Did you know right away that you were onto something huge with Kinect?
We had lots of challenges to overcome but knew pretty quickly that what we had was magic. Seeing the crowd reaction when we showed it off at E3 in 2009 was one of the most exciting experiences of my life.
Do you plan to stay in gaming for the rest of your career?
It’s likely too late for me to cure cancer or go the moon, so this is still my shot at deep, fulfilling work.
Kinect is already profound and will be even more so in the future. For example: there is a Kinect “hack,” Jewel Mine, that helps rehabilitate people who have had strokes as the interactive movements can repair neural damage.
This is all just the start. I look forward to being along for the journey.
Jason Pankow is a regular contributor to Dear JobsBlog, but that's just in his spare time. His real job is devoted to searching the world over for top technical talent - most recently as part of Kinect for Windows. Jason took a few minutes to write about his new recruiting gig with this group at Microsoft. The stuff they are working on is pretty unreal. But don't take my word for it. Just read what he has to say...then see if you or someone you know is ready to take on a new career challenge in 2012!
About 2 months ago, I started supporting the Kinect for Windows team. At first I was unsure what to expect. Kinect was launched to change the way people play games and experience entertainment. How would that translate to Windows? I honestly had no clue. Here is what I have learned about the innovative and highly gifted Kinect for Windows (K4W) team and the product they’re developing. 
The release of Kinect for Xbox in late 2010 not only resulted in a Guinness World Record being set for the “fastest selling consumer electronics device,” but it lit a fire of innovation. Technology savvy consumers and developers quickly saw the advantages of using Kinect to interact with computers using simple gestures, voice commands, and movement.
The transformative powers and limitless possibilities of Kinect became known as the Kinect Effect.
From around the world, people were using Kinect in ways never before imagined. Recognizing this enthusiasm and energy, Microsoft formed the Kinect for Windows group. K4W is a fast growing team that is building the hardware, software, tools and resources to enable the use of Kinect beyond gaming and entertainment. The team has already launched two beta versions of a non-commercial software development kit (SDK) and will be releasing version 1.0 hardware and software in early 2012.
Lead by Craig Eisler, formerly the Corporate Vice President for Entertainment Clients and the Zune Music and Video Business, Kinect for Windows has the passion, drive, and resourcefulness of a startup while being part of a well-established Microsoft business group. The team has grown rapidly and WE’RE STILL GROWING!
What does it take to succeed in the Kinect for Windows group? I asked Craig who explained, “We’re seeking people who embrace constant innovations and welcome the opportunity to become a part of the journey. As a new group, team members must have the flexibility to accept new challenges and branch into areas that have yet to be defined.”
So…is this you? Currently, the team is hiring software development engineers and technical program managers. Engineer roles are available for a range of skills and experience levels including system development for audio and graphics systems, building and executing automated and manual test plans, and developing SDKs and UI frameworks.
Microsoft encourages our employees, partners and customers to “Be What’s Next". The breakthrough natural user interface (NUI) platform being developed and evangelized by the Kinect for Windows team isn’t just on the cutting edge of technology…it is what’s next!
In early 2012, the Kinect for Windows commercial program will launch -- ushering in the use of Kinect-enabled devices in education, healthcare, automotive, retail, and more. This program will also increase the need for people of varying viewpoints, ready to lay the groundwork to enable businesses and industries to utilize the many capabilities of Kinect software, hardware, and resources to create innovative, highly interactive applications and experiences for their customers.
If you are a techy geek like me (and I suspect you are or you wouldn’t be reading this post) keep your eye on the Kinect for Windows team.
The end of the year is a blur of traditions, predictions, champagne, diet resolutions, family time and, of course, annual “best of” lists for everything and anything you can imagine.
As we don’t want to be left out in the cold, we’ve compiled a list of the Top Ten Microspotting profiles featured on JobsBlog in 2011. With one twist; our list goes to eleven.
This year, we interviewed lone employees who pioneered roles as female developers and employees overcoming challenges. We also got to know groups like Microsoft’s a cappella choir and couples who found love at the company. We met those who are exploring the frontiers of technology and others who are educating the next generation of tech innovators. And, of course, we sniffed out the unexpected from the former NFL prospect who went pro at Microsoft to the employee who moonlights as the mascot for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks (and uses the position to raise money to fight multiple sclerosis).
Without further fanfare, here is the list of our favorite Microspotting stories from 2011. The stories are not ranked in any particular order, but all are sure to inspire.
1. Ben Martens, North America’s most ambitious ski bum
2. Our Valentine’s Day tribute to love found at Microsoft
3. Janet Galore, explaining the future of technology
4. Ryan Asdourian, Microsoft’s #1 Seahawks fan and superhero fundraiser
5. Ed Donahue & Ashley Myers, two-time Imagine Cup finalists and Microsoft co-workers
6. Sue Loh, inspiring future coders through retro gaming
7. Betsy Speare, blazing trails and building community for female developers
8. Jenny Lay Flurrie, embracing disability, finding success and helping others do the same
9. Boris Erickson, Xbox LIVE’s Enforcement Unicorn Ninja (yes, you read that correctly)
10. Albert Rocker, former NFL prospect goes pro at Microsoft
11. The BaudBoys, Microsoft’s Kings of Geek-A-Cappella
By Thomas Kohnstamm
Geek in question: André Alfred
Job title: IT/OPS Program Manager, Global Foundation Services, part of the Online Services Division
This fall, Microsoft hired a 30-year-old engineer from Lafayette, Louisiana, named André Alfred. In spite of his relatively young age, André has a deeper resume than many middle-aged professionals. This is due to the fact that André started working in tech at the fresh age of 16 and built a remarkable career on his own terms.
While André was interviewing at Microsoft, he emailed his recruiter to say, “You know 14 years ago I was featured on Microsoft's TechNet as ‘Web Doer of the Month,’ and just this weekend I found the print-outs as I was clearing out some shelves... Fate?”
I think that it is fate. (Check out André’s 1997 interview here.)
Microsoft acknowledged André for his talent and drive at a young age. He spent the first part of his career exploring the technology industry and learning its various facets, but now he’s come around to the place where he can create his long-term career and push his talent and drive to their limits.
I recently checked in with André at his new Redmond office to find out about his journey from a prodigy recognized by Microsoft to a Program Manager at Microsoft. I was also fortunate to be there when he got the good news that he and his family had just closed on their first house in the Seattle-area.
How did you become so interested in technology?
My dad brought home a Tandy when I was just 5 years old. Originally, we were both really into playing games on it. But then my interest just grew and grew. I started taking the computer apart, swapping boards and RAM and driving my dad crazy by breaking and rebuilding everything.
I bet that got in the way of his gaming.
For sure. And when I was 16, my dad told me that I needed to get a job or start cutting the lawn. We lived on three-and-a-half acres; which is no joke to mow in the Louisiana sun. So, I applied for a job at the helpdesk of a local ISP.
That’s when Microsoft recognized you a “Web Doer of the Month?”
Yeah, I was only getting minimum wage, which was something like $4.75 an hour at the time, so I also starting running my own web consulting business on the side. I won first place in Desktop Publishing at the Future Business Leaders of America Conference and then Microsoft got in touch about an interview for TechNet.
And you went to college after that?
I’m actually still working on my degree. Slowly, but surely.I guess I was very fortunate in that I always knew what I wanted to do. I started at that ISP and soon I was training in Cisco systems and next I had engineering, IT manager and PM jobs at Lucent and Aggreko.
Eventually, I married my wife, relocated to Richmond, Virginia, and went to work for Capital One. That’s when a Microsoft recruiter “re-discovered” me on LinkedIn.
Did you think that you would ever work at Microsoft?
I was definitely always interested as I am a tech geek at heart and, whether they admit it or not, every tech geek dreams of working at Microsoft at some point.
Plus, I like working with other people who are kinda nerdy. At other companies, I was “the engineer” or “IT guy,” but this is a whole company full of people like me.
I can talk about gaming or code with just about anybody in the hall here.
You’ve had a very entrepreneurial career. Did you have reservations about working for a large tech company?
Honestly, I maxed-out in some of my earlier jobs. I don’t consider myself to be a job hopper so I wanted a place that would really give me the potential to grow and move in the next stages of my career – and at Microsoft there is no limit.
If anything, the idea of supporting so many customers is a little intimidating, but – at the same time – it’s a very exciting challenge.
Congratulations on the new house. Was it hard to move to the Northwest considering you have such deep roots in Louisiana?
Now that I am married and have two kids, Microsoft’s benefits and relocation were very attractive for my family. The company couldn’t have handled the move any better. And it also helps that my wife is always up for an adventure.
So, what’s next in the adventures of André Alfred?
My job is to deliver major initiatives across teams that have many different skills. So, right now, I’m looking forward to heading to Tallinn, Estonia, to integrate the Skype team into Microsoft.
By Thomas Kohnstamm
What do Tom Selleck, truckers and scores of Microsoft employees around the world have in common? At least for the month of November, it happens to be mustaches.
And when I say that these Microsoft employees have mustaches, I don’t mean simple hairs sprouting out from under their noses. I mean money-raising, cancer-fighting magic mustaches.
OK, so what the heck am I talking about?
It’s called Movember. And Microsoft’s Movember “Captains” Darshan Bavaria, a software engineer in Office, and Matt Bielich, a software engineer in Xbox, explain that this month-long mustache-growing fundraiser “is the biggest global grassroots campaign for men’s health in recent memory.”
Movember was founded by a handful of Australian “Mo Bros” in the early 2000s (the name is a mashup of “mo,” Aussie slang for mustache, and the month of November). It started in response to the fact that 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and though rates of prostate cancer are comparable to rates of breast cancer in women, fundraising for men’s health is infinitesimally smaller.
Darshan says, “Most men are uncomfortable talking about their health in the first place and more so about issues like prostate and testicular cancer.” He sees Movember as the antidote to men’s refusal to confront these issues in that, “You need to have a sense of humor to do Movember and, obviously, humor is a great way to get people to address difficult issues.”
Matt seconds the point, “Growing a mustache can be a bit humiliating – in a good way. If people have always known you to be clean-shaven, a mustache is the ultimate conversation starter. And if that conversation helps raise money for men’s health, then all the better.”
Movember mustaches started to creep onto the upper lips of ‘Softies in the last few years. While past organizers did a commendable job of getting the ball rolling, the Movember effort remained fragmented among a number of different Microsoft teams.
And then Darshan and Matt got involved. 
These hirsute heroes became the brains behind the mustaches at Microsoft. Their streamlined effort built a company-wide Microsoft Movember that has raised over $82,000 this November. Matt adds, “And the greatest thing about doing Movember at Microsoft is that the company matches donations of $25 or more from employees, so we end up doubling much of the fundraising dollars.”
Darshan and Matt successfully spread the word through our internal OfficeTalk application, external social media sites and homemade posters around campus. They also increased participation by offering a series of facial hair awards and by sticking adhesive mustaches on the bathroom mirrors.
Darshan says, “We send a weekly newsletter with tips of the week on how to improve your mustache and how to perfect your fundraising like letting the highest bidder name your mustache or you can make the process interactive and let people bid on your mustache style.” Matt chimes in, “My mustache was named Sir Reginald von Burlington IV.”
Both Matt and Darshan have been impressed by the global breadth of Microsoft’s participation in this year’s Movember.
Matt says, “We have Mo Bros at a variety of offices like Microsoft Ireland and Canada, but there’s also been support from a surprising variety of businesses within the company. For example, the guys at the Microsoft Store in Mission Viejo, California have come through big and they don’t get to hide in an office all day. They have to wear their mustache with pride while speaking with customers.”
Women (affectionately called Mo Sistas) can also get involved in Movember through fundraising, event hosting and generally being tolerant of their partner’s and friends’ facial fuzz.
Matt and Darshan already have their sights on Movember 2012. Darshan says, “Next year we have even bigger plans with a more elaborate kickoff party and we want to get people to pre-pledge because, otherwise, we are faced with November fundraising right after the end of the October Microsoft Giving campaign.”
Matt smoothes back the corners of his glossy ‘stache and philosophizes, “Movember is also a great bonding event for employees. It’s a chance for us to come together beyond our work roles and do something good. That and, obviously, we want to raise more money than Google.”
UPDATE: 546 people from Microsoft office around the world participated to raise over $100,000 for Movember this year. You can view a special message from Movember Executive Director and CEO, Adam Garone here.
