After 26 years at Microsoft, I’m stepping into the next chapter at the end of this month. I’m founding LumenForge Advisors — and I’m also very open to the right new leadership opportunities where I can continue driving large-scale AI transformation.

I’m very excited about the journey ahead. Through LumenForge Advisors, I’ll focus on delivering pragmatic AI transformation to small and medium sized businesses that want to take advantage of this powerful technology and that treats AI as a tool that amplifies human potential, sharpens decision-making, and drives sustainable results.

The Microsoft Chapter

Twenty-six years is a meaningful run in tech. I started as a Support Engineer in 2000 and progressed through readiness, program management, operations management, digital enablement, and most recently as Director of AI Strategy & Transformation.

The pattern across those roles has been consistent: turning ambitious strategy into measurable execution. I led virtualization efforts that cut hands-on training costs, I built a global operations team that excelled at landing broad learning programs across over 50,000 internal customers. The team, and the function that I built out of Romania, remains one of the most rewarding and successful ventures I’ve been privy to be a part of, and it all stemmed from a midnight conversation at an offsite almost 15 years ago.

In my recent Director roles, the focus shifted to academic programs and AI. I partnered across Sales, Customer Success, Engineering, Enablement, and executive stakeholders to move Copilot and agentic AI from pilots into embedded, repeatable ways of working. That meant designing governance, metrics, incentives, role-based enablement, and communications that actually drive behavior change and deliver revenue impact, better customer outcomes, and sharper decision-making at scale.

Microsoft taught me how to align executive intent with frontline reality. I leave with deep gratitude for the people, the mission, and the lessons. Most importantly, I leave with neither bitterness nor regret, only respect for what we built together and how I can bring these skills to bear to help other companies succeed.

What I’m Carrying Forward

This transition is deliberate. I took the early retirement offer because it aligned with my readiness to apply everything I’ve learned in new ways. The capabilities I’ve honed, ranging from senior stakeholder management, change management, data-driven adoption systems, and the discipline to balance strategy with tactical execution remain highly relevant for organizations navigating AI at scale.

The LumenForge Vision: Pragmatic, People-Empowered AI

At LumenForge Advisors, I’m focused on helping organizations, especially small and mid-sized businesses, adopt AI pragmatically and effectively. We emphasize hands-on implementation, team training, continuous evaluation, and measurable results that drive efficiency and growth, all grounded in a people-first approach.

Principally, this isn’t about replacing humans with technology. It’s about using AI to amplify human judgment, creativity, and leadership. I’ve seen too many initiatives stall because they underinvested in the human side. The winners will be those who get both dimensions right, realizing business success by empowering their people to make stronger contributions, broaden their capabilities, and increase their capacity to contribute to maximize their individual potential. This is where companies truly excel and grow.

LumenForge gives me the freedom to work directly with leaders on exactly these challenges. At the same time, I remain very interested in full-time Director or senior leadership roles where I can drive enterprise-scale AI transformation end-to-end.

Why Now

The AI landscape in 2026 is moving fast. Many organizations need experienced hands to turn ambition into sustainable performance. Whether through LumenForge or in a full-time capacity, I’m energized by the opportunity to help leaders build adoption systems that stick and deliver real business value.

Looking Ahead

If you’re navigating AI-driven change, whether leading transformation inside a large organization or scaling AI in a growing company, I would very much welcome the conversation. I’m enthusiastic to connect on pragmatic approaches that put people at the center.

I’ll continue sharing insights here on AI transformation, change leadership, and the intersection of strategy and execution. The goal is simple: help organizations move faster and more sustainably.

To sum it all up: Twenty-six years at Microsoft was an extraordinary chapter. Now I’m stepping forward with clarity, gratitude, and real momentum, committed to pragmatic, people-empowered AI wherever that impact can be greatest.