GENISE DAWSON
Helping people prepare for what comes next.
After a 26-year career at Microsoft spanning operations, transformation, technology, change, and leadership, I've come full circle to a path I first considered more than two decades ago.
Today, my focus is helping people think intentionally about their financial future, prepare for life's expected and unexpected moments, and build strategies around what matters most to them.
Financial Professional | Licensed Insurance Producer | Financial Preparation & Growth Strategies
You don't have to get ready if you stay ready.
My Story
Sometimes the next chapter brings you back to where you started.
More than 26 years ago, before beginning my career at Microsoft, I seriously considered a path in financial services.
At the time, I had two children, a family to support, and needed the stability of a predictable income. Life took me in another direction.
What followed was an incredible 26-year journey.
Through operations, leadership, transformation, technology, employee experience, change management, and AI adoption, I spent my career helping organizations and people navigate change, solve complicated problems, and prepare for what comes next.
Those experiences shaped how I think about preparation, uncertainty, opportunity, and the decisions we make about our future.
And eventually, they brought me full circle.
Today, as a Financial Professional and Licensed Insurance Producer, I'm bringing that experience and perspective into work focused on helping people prepare for their financial future.
My previous chapters aren't separate from what I'm doing today. They're part of what prepared me for it.
Experience I Carry Forward
Experience I Carry Forward
My career in operations, technology, and leadership shaped how I think about preparation, uncertainty, and helping people move forward.
Areas of experience that continue to inform my perspective:
- AI Enablement & Adoption
- Change Management
- Business Operations & Program Leadership
Phoenix/Chandler, Arizona
Explore My Experience
About Genise
My path here wasn't a straight line. Looking back, it makes sense.
More than 26 years ago, before beginning my career at Microsoft, I seriously considered a career in financial services.
At the time, I had two children, a family to support, and needed the stability of a predictable income. Life took me in another direction.
And what a direction it was.
My 26-year journey at Microsoft gave me opportunities to work across operations, employee experience, enterprise programs, transformation, change management, executive partnership, technology, and AI adoption.
I built programs. Led through change. Solved complicated problems. Supported people through uncertainty. And learned what it means to prepare organizations for what comes next.
Those experiences changed me.
They taught me that preparation matters. Circumstances change. And some of the most important decisions we make aren't simply about what's happening today. They're about creating options for tomorrow.
Eventually, those lessons brought me back to where I once thought I might begin.
Financial services.
Today, as a Financial Professional and Licensed Insurance Producer, my focus is helping people prepare for their financial future and think intentionally about the life they're building.
Because life doesn't always follow the plan.
Some circumstances we can anticipate. Others we never see coming. Careers change. Families change. Priorities shift. Opportunities emerge. And sometimes life simply asks something different of us.
Being prepared doesn't mean knowing exactly what's going to happen.
It means thinking ahead, understanding what matters to you, and putting thoughtful strategies in place to help navigate both the expected and unexpected.
That's the perspective I bring to this work.
My previous chapters aren't separate from what I'm doing today. They're part of what prepared me for it.
Twenty-six years later, I've come full circle with experience, perspective, and a much clearer understanding of why this work matters to me.
You don't have to get ready if you stay ready.
Experience
Career Timeline
Current Chapter
Financial Professional
Licensed Insurance Producer
Financial Preparation & Growth Strategies
My current professional focus is helping people think intentionally about their financial future and prepare for life's expected and unexpected circumstances.
Catalyst Coded Foundation
Co-Founder | COO
I lead nonprofit operations, partnerships, and program development, building organizational infrastructure and systems for founder support and cohort programming. This current leadership role supports underrepresented founders building AI-driven businesses.
Entrepreneurial Projects
Alongside my professional and community work, I continue developing independent digital projects: Skip the Blank Page and Resume Marketplace.
26 Years at Microsoft
1999–2026
From benefits operations and executive support to global operations, community leadership, and enterprise programs, each chapter brought broader responsibility and new opportunities to lead through transformation.
Business Program Manager
Enterprise Programs & Employee Experience
- Owned enterprise programs across a 40,000-person organization and built a seven-pillar OKR framework for senior leadership reporting across nine business groups.
- Co-led operations for Microsoft's first AI Skills Accelerator in my organization. The program expanded across three organizations serving more than 60,000 employees, with 40% of participants completing at least 75% of a non-required course.
- Achieved 98% conversion across inclusive hiring programs and delivered 112% Intern Day attendance.
Co-Founder & Chair
Blacks at Microsoft, E+D Chapter
- Grew chapter membership from 19 to 550+ and co-led product feedback that shipped two Microsoft features.
Senior Executive Assistant
Global Operations Leader & Executive Partner
- Served as an operational partner to an EVP as the organization grew from roughly 300 to 40,000 employees, and built a global admin network from 1 to 135 professionals.
- Led change management alongside Real Estate & Facilities for a $100M campus renovation affecting roughly 1,700 employees, including 950+ engineers, with 67% approval in a post-move survey.
- Led integration of newly acquired companies, including Accompli, Sunrise, and Yammer.
Administrative Assistant
Executive & Operational Support
- Three-time Gold Star Award recipient.
Benefits Administrator
New Hire Services & Benefits Operations
- Presented weekly at company-wide orientations.
Selected Projects
Things I've Built Along the Way
I’ve always enjoyed turning ideas into something useful. These projects reflect that part of me: identifying a need, creating a practical solution, and building something that helps people move forward.
Digital Project
Skip the Blank Page
A digital project focused on helping business owners get beyond the blank-page stage of building their online presence through thoughtfully prepared website solutions.
Visit Skip the Blank PageDigital Project
Resume Marketplace
A practical career resource designed to help people strengthen how they present their experience and move forward professionally.
Visit Resume MarketplaceCareer Experience
Experience shaped by people, systems, and change.
Across my Microsoft career, I helped teams navigate operational complexity, adopt new technology, and move through change. These experiences are part of the perspective I bring to my current chapter.
Non-Technical Program Management
- The Context
- Important work often spanned people, systems, and competing priorities.
- My Contribution
- I built ownership, operating rhythms, checkpoints, and reporting structures to help teams keep the work moving.
- Career Highlight
- Owned enterprise programs across a 40,000-person organization and built a seven-pillar OKR framework for reporting across nine business groups.
AI Adoption & Enablement
- The Context
- New technology required more than access to tools. People needed a practical way to learn and apply it.
- My Contribution
- I co-led operations for Microsoft's first AI Skills Accelerator in my organization, bringing together communications, community engagement, and participant feedback.
- Career Highlight
- The program expanded across three organizations serving more than 60,000 employees, with 40% of participants completing at least 75% of a non-required course.
Change Management
- The Context
- Large-scale change brought uncertainty, skepticism, and different needs across the people affected.
- My Contribution
- I built communication, feedback loops, and stakeholder engagement to help people understand and navigate the change.
- Career Highlight
- Led change management alongside Real Estate & Facilities for a $100M campus renovation affecting roughly 1,700 employees, with 67% approval in a post-move survey.
These are chapters of my professional experience, not consulting services I currently offer.
Each chapter helped prepare me for what came next.
My current work in financial services draws on years of helping people navigate uncertainty, consider their options, and prepare for change.
Read My StoryRecommendations
What leaders say
“Genise simplifies complexity, strengthens leadership, and builds culture. Her clarity and judgment elevate every team she supports.”
Rajesh Jha, EVP
“One of the most effective and inspiring professionals I've worked with.”
“She turns intent into action and builds durable communities.”
“She sees around corners and solves complex problems with creativity and pragmatism.”
“A rare coach and mentor who helps people realize their potential.”
“One of the smartest and most capable professionals I've ever worked with.”
“She managed major programs with excellence and strengthened employee experience.”
“She inspires people to deliver their best and executes flawlessly.”
“She empowered me to advocate for myself and created opportunities that changed my trajectory.”
“She managed budgeting, recruiting, procurement, and events with excellence.”
Leadership Beyond the Role
Independent Work & Community Leadership
Genise Dawson LLC
Historical Independent Work | Business Sunset
Previously led independent work in operations strategy, program design, and executive coaching across education, beauty, federal contracting, and real estate. Genise Dawson LLC has been sunset and is no longer an active business.
Catalyst Coded Foundation
Co-Founder and COO
Arizona-based nonprofit accelerator supporting underrepresented founders building AI-driven businesses.
Community
Volunteer & Community Leadership
- Microsoft E+D BAM
- Junior League of Seattle
- Valley Black Collective
- The Perfect Push Foundation
A Lean In Circle for women 40+ thinking through their professional pivots. We provide support, advice, and guidance to walk them through their journey.
Credentials
Certifications
- Chief of Staff Certified Professional
- Artificial Intelligence for Business & Prompt Engineering
- Certified Project Manager (CPM)
- The Coaching Habit, Organizational Teams
Core Capabilities
Technology I Work Across
Anthropic
OpenAI
Microsoft
Other AI & Build Tools
Business & Design Platforms
Independent Projects
Practical resources, built along the way.
My independent digital projects reflect an interest in making useful things. These career and website resources sit alongside my professional work, not as consulting engagements.
Career Positioning
Your experience, positioned for what comes next.
Resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn refinement designed to make the value of your experience easier to see and align your story with the opportunities you're pursuing.
Explore the Resume ResourceDigital Presence
Skip the blank page.
A curated collection of thoughtfully built websites for small businesses that want to start with something good instead of starting from scratch.
Explore the CollectionLet's Talk
Let's Stay Connected.
If my story, experiences, projects, or Insights resonate with you, you're welcome to get in touch.
I value thoughtful conversations and the connections that grow from shared experiences.