This year, Microsoft celebrates its 50th anniversary, a milestone that feels personal to me. It’s not just a company-wide reflection on five decades of innovation, it's an opportunity for me to take stock of my own journey, one that has been deeply intertwined with Microsoft's technology for a long time.
I am roughly the same age as the company itself, and for most of my life, I have been engaging with the software it produced. From the early days of navigating DOS prompts or embracing our AI-based aspirations, Microsoft’s innovations have shaped the way I work, learn, and create. And now, in a truly remarkable turn of events, I have the privilege of working for the very company that has shaped so much of my technical journey. It’s a full-circle moment that fills me with deep gratitude and thanksgiving.
A few days ago Bill Gates celebrated Microsoft’s 50th Anniversary by unveiling the source code that laid the foundation for the company. The 157-page PDF reveals the origins of Altair Basic, the programming language interpreter for the MITS Altair 8800 microcomputer. Our former CEO, reflecting on his work, described it as “the coolest code I’ve ever written to this day”. It was really interesting to read and while I have written my fair share of Assembler code there is no part of me that would describe that experience as cool ;).
Today though, I’m reminded that my own reinvention is a continuous and purposeful process. Fifty years is an wonderful milestone for me, but it’s not a conclusion. It’s a foundation for what’s next, a reminder that transformation is ongoing. Whether in code or in life, the process of building, refining, and reimagining never truly ends. And for that, I am truly grateful.
Happy Birthday!
