The software development industry is a dynamic landscape in the field of Education that is continuously evolving, driven by technological advancements and the need for businesses to adapt to the modern era of teaching and learning. The industry is changing rapidly and software developers need to be prepared to adapt to these changes in order to stay ahead of the curve.

Victoria Thompson is an emerging key figure driving success at Microsoft as a dedicated Customer Success Account Manager (CSAM). She stands as a testament to the company’s profound mission to empower individuals and organisations worldwide to achieve more through technology.

In a world where innovation paves the way to a brighter future, Microsoft’s ethos transcends mere encouragement of curiosity; it wholeheartedly embraces it. Victoria embodies this spirit as she collaborates with her colleagues daily, driven by a genuine eagerness to learn and grow. Her approach is rooted in the belief that collective achievement surpasses individual success and she continuously champions her peers, realising that their triumphs only enhance the collective outcome.

Let’s delve into Victoria’s efforts and Microsoft’s mission to contribute to a world where technology isn’t just a tool, but a transformative force for good!

Summarise your journey as an education leader to your current role at Microsoft and highlight the challenges you’ve conquered along the way.

I began my journey teaching fifth and sixth-grade math and science in Charleston, South Carolina. Even though my job was to teach math and science, my colleagues and school leadership saw my strengths in technology training and often called on me to help them with things like maximising their email efficiency, fixing their interactive whiteboards and using technology in their lessons and meetings. In the middle of my fourth year of teaching, we moved to Seattle.

My wife, Kourtney, is a former active-duty military and we got the call to move so she could work on the base out there. When we moved to Seattle, I was able to leverage that experience working with technology in schools into other positions such as a technology strategy consultant, a mathematics curriculum creator and a STEM coach over schools in Washington state before transitioning into my career at Microsoft. I decided to make the switch and go to Microsoft because it gave me the challenge, I desired to continue my career goals and the company was a great personality fit.

Two things that really propelled me into “education leader” status are not just my ideas and my leadership style but also my presence on social media. I have a large following on Twitter (@VictoriaTheTech) and LinkedIn (linkedin.com/victoriarosethompson), where I talk about pretty much everything in education–but with a focus on making education more inclusive, accessible and innovative.

The first challenge I had to encounter was proving to myself that, coming from outside of the technology sector, I had merit as an educator entering the field. I am always thankful for industries and companies that are willing to speak and connect with educators because that is how I got my start. People just wanted to talk to me and hear more about how I was utilising technology in my work. The second challenge I had was that, once I left the classroom environment, to still find ways to be connected to the field that I came from. As someone who works in the education sector of technology, this is very important to me; I cannot support the people I work with if I don’t understand what they’re doing or where they’re coming from. I’ve made conscious efforts to tackle both challenges and I’ve been very successful. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished and always look forward to what’s in store in the future.

Tell us something more about your organisation and its mission and vision.

I’ve had two roles at Microsoft so far. My first role was as Education Industry Executive, where I managed our Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert (MIE Expert) programs and Showcase Schools, as well as supporting 23 states across the United States in education industry subject matter expertise. In my current role, I am fortunate to work at Microsoft as a Customer Success Account Manager (CSAM), which is a bit of a more technical role.

I work alongside CIOs, CTOs and Information Technology Directors to enable quality solution delivery and support customer relationships. Presently, I primarily concentrate on the state that I live in (Florida) instead of 23 states. Both jobs are fun, but they are very different! Regardless of the role, Microsoft’s mission and vision is to empower every person and organisation on the planet to achieve more.

My personal mission as Victoria Thompson; education thought leader and human being, is to lead in education with courage, integrity and innovation. Courage allows us to take that first step to discover something new, integrity allows us to show up in our professional and personal lives as our authentic selves, and innovation helps us look towards the future in a positive light.

Enlighten us on how you have impacted the education niche through your expertise in the market.

I feel that two of my greatest strengths are community building and public speaking. As a CSAM at Microsoft, I’ve worked with folks across the United States to develop foundational relationships with key technology stakeholders to enable quality solution delivery and support for schools and districts. In my previous role at Microsoft as an Education Industry Executive, I managed the MIE Expert and Showcase School programs, growing the Expert community from 745 to 830 members in 2022.

As an education thought leader and independent educational technology consultant, I work with school districts across the world to address topics such as technology equity and capacity building with professional development. I have presented at conferences such as ISTE, FETC, TCEA, IDEAcon, ImpactEducation, CUE, and DigCitSummit on topics such as using technology to create inclusive math classrooms, the intersectionality of literacy and STEM, equity in instructional coaching, culturally responsive STEM education, and equity in educational technology.

My goal is always to have people walk away with actionable items and a fresh mindset for how they can address technology in education and learn from each other to build community.

Describe in detail the values and the work culture that drives your organisation.

At Microsoft, one thing I really appreciate is that we are encouraged to show up and be our authentic selves. I love it. There has never been a moment for me where I feel as though I’ve had to change who I am to be at that organisation.

Our diversities and personalities are not only highlighted but celebrated. I appear pretty frequently on Microsoft’s social media along with my wife and my dog! I love that they look beyond our jobs and into who we are as humans and celebrate that.

A highlight for me was also when my wife and I were highlighted on various Microsoft employees’ social media during Pride Month in 2022. It’s all very special and something that you don’t see every day in other organisations.

How does technology enhance education resources across sectors?

To me, the heart of being resourceful is being able to communicate your needs and then research how your needs can be better serviced or supported. Sometimes in education and technology, we don’t know what we don’t know until we learn about it and seek it out. A way in particular that I leverage technological advancements to make education resourceful is that

I begin every day by going online and literally searching “education today” and seeing the different trends, new gadgets, new advancements, a little bit of everything, really. It helps me begin my day with what’s on the forefront of educators’ minds, and how I can incorporate these trends and ideas into my daily work in the tech sector.

What’s the upcoming big change in education and how will you contribute to it?

Something big on my mind lately has been Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding AI and what it can do for educators and students specifically. How AI can not only save time for educators but also positively impact education insights for educators and school leaders.

I’ve had my ear to the ground on multiple AI initiatives in education to see how this is going to impact educators for school years to come. I think we should all keep our eyes and ears open for what’s to come with new innovations for AI in education.

Where do you envision yourself to be in the long run and what are your future goals for Microsoft?

This is a great question! I find that my answer to this is evolving every day. I’ve been in this CSAM role for a few months now and I really enjoy it. I would like to be able to manage a team one day and continue to be an education thought leader.

Recently, at the ISTE (International Society of Technology in Education) Conference in Philadelphia, PA, the Vice President of Microsoft Education, Lydia Smyers, brought me up on stage to celebrate my accomplishment of winning one of the Top 20 to Watch for ISTE in 2023. That will always be a great memory for me, it’s so wonderful to be celebrated for your accomplishments.

What advice would you give to leaders in the education sector?

Be yourself and be courageous! My Dad says, “Courage is required to accomplish the impossible, to take on complex responsibilities and to walk into the unknown with the possibility of achieving great success.” I live by that every day and encourage you all to as well.

About the Leader

Victoria Thompson is a Customer Success Account Manager at Microsoft Education, an ISTE Community Leader, and a technology in education consultant. She began her journey teaching fifth and sixth-grade math and science in Summerville, SC.

After completing her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction she moved to the Seattle, WA area in 2018, where her career has pivoted to focusing on digital transformation, STEM integration in schools, technology in instruction, and using technology to bridge equity gaps in education. At Microsoft Education, she works with folks across the country to develop foundational relationships with key technology stakeholders to enable quality solution delivery and support for schools and districts.

She has managed the Microsoft Innovative Education Expert (MIE Expert) and Showcase School programs, growing the Expert community from 745 to 830 members in 2022. As a technology in education consultant she works with school districts across the world to address topics such as technology equity and capacity building with professional development, and has presented at conferences such as ISTE, FETC, TCEA, IDEAcon, ImpactEducation, CUE, and DigCitSummit on topics such as using technology to create inclusive math classrooms, the intersectionality of literacy and STEM, equity in instructional coaching, culturally responsive STEM education, and equity in educational technology.

Additionally, she was recently awarded the title of one of the top 30 K-12 IT influencers in 2021 by EdTech Magazine and one of the ISTE Top 20 to Watch in 2023. She now lives in Winter Garden, FL with her wife, Kourtney, and her dog, Ren.

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