Steven Worrall has been the managing director of Microsoft Australia since early 2017. He has worked in Australia’s tech industry for over 30 years.
Reflecting his stated belief that tech has a positive role in creating a better society, he advocates for inclusive hiring at Microsoft across all industry types and skill levels.
Steven is at the helm of the Australian arm of Microsoft, a US headquartered company, and one of the world’s leading information technology organisations.
Microsoft sits in a central position in a world increasingly influenced by technology.
The company ranks alongside Apple, Google, Meta and Amazon as a major technological innovator and a trendsetter which has transformed the way the world does business.
It is a developer of software and hardware, such as Surface laptops and Xbox, as well as a provider of cloud services. It also owns other platforms that play a regular role in day-to-day work life, such as LinkedIn and Skype.
Microsoft’s Windows operating system, and Office 365 have been part of everyday life at home and at work for decades.
Founded in 1975 by Paul Allen and Bill Gates, Microsoft now employs more than 180,000 people worldwide and in 2021 had revenue of US$168B.
The success of the company is based on its centrality to the tech revolution and its close interaction with business customers and individual consumers.
Microsoft operates in the interface between digital transformation and the personalised needs of consumers and of businesses keen to remain competitive by being digitally agile.
Steven wasn’t really clear on what he wanted to do when he started his career, that only came with time. His biggest inspiration was his father, a small businessman who offered an example of a strong work ethic and a benchmark to live by: whatever you do just be the best you can be.
On reflection, the key moments in his career related to moments of stress and anxiety, whether work related or personal, that created challenges, leading to questioning what he really wanted to do in life. The key learning he took from these moments was to be clear on what it was he was trying to achieve, his purpose.
A key message Steven wants to impart is the importance of listening to your real feelings, of being authentic to yourself. As simple as it is to say, working out what is most important in your life, having a view of your future self and what motivates you, is the key.
When it comes to making any important decision in life, whether it’s about your personal life or your career, if you aren’t clear on what you truly want and the direction you are headed, it can be easy to be left disappointed with the outcomes that eventuate.
Steven was also influenced by a mentor early in his career who encouraged him to take on a role and a set of challenges that took him in a new direction. . The role provided the opportunity to broaden his experience and to recognise that career development is rarely linear. From that experience he realised the importance of connecting with others and listening carefully to the wisdom and advice they can offer.
Listening to others and trusting them was valuable because it could give a broader range of perspectives and led to solutions and opportunities. Often it is those around us who know us best and can help us to understand ourselves more deeply – surround yourself with people who care about you.
Taking risks requires becoming comfortable with failure and overcoming self-doubt. Steven says he had lots of fears of failure, mostly derived from self-doubt.
Being comfortable to take risks and being comfortable in understanding that maybe not everything will work out perfectly, but that’s ok, is important according to Steven. He believes risks often appear smaller in hindsight and taking a risk and having a go is always better than not.
Steven took a risk when he made the decision to join the tech industry. At the time he thought it was likely tech would play an increasingly important role, but he really didn’t know for sure. Thirty years later its clear taking that risk was the right decision when he looks around to see the massive role technology is playing in every industry around the world.
There’s no doubt that developing skills and knowledge is important for any career however Steven believes it’s as important to invest in yourself and to strive to put yourself in the best place possible, both physically and mentally.
To perform at your best you have to be at your best both mentally and physically. This means eating well, exercising regularly, making sure you get enough sleep and prioritising time with family and friends, are all part of the equation but we often make compromises in some or all of these areas due to time pressures. Performing at your best and investing in your wellbeing (both mental and physical) go hand in hand and as the pace of life continues to accelerate, it’s more important than ever to have a strong wellbeing routine.