E9: DJ Meets Corporate Leadership With Emily Griffin

“Being an artist absolutely is what keeps me, ‘me’ in the corporate ecosystem,” says DJ and Director of Programs for Microsoft’s Global Experiences, Emily Griffin. In this episode, Emily discusses how she balances her roles in tech and music while maintaining her authenticity.

 

At Microsoft, Emily shapes the organizational culture to boost employee engagement and aligns company values with personal behaviors, enhancing both professional and personal growth. She shares her passion for DJing, which serves as a liberating and empowering creative outlet, helping her connect with others through music.

 

Emily draws parallels between her roles as a DJ and corporate leader, highlighting skills such as reading the room and improvising, which are crucial in both areas. She shares insights into the challenges and rewards of balancing her diverse roles, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, self-awareness, and continual growth.

 

Quotes

• “I came back to Microsoft as a culture designer and it’s been a really amazing journey of leadership and understanding the depth of humanity, of the needs of the people that I serve. We talk a lot about customer experiences, serving customers, and serving the whole world. And for me, my product is our employees. I’m focused on them and their needs. And that all really came out of my passion for people, relationships, and culture in general.” (02:50 | Emily Griffin) 
• “I’ve been a DJ for as long as I can remember, really. But I came up in my career as a music artist, producer, and community builder. So I really came into tech from that entertainment and music background. And I’ve managed to keep that balance. Being an artist absolutely is what keeps me, ‘me’ in the corporate ecosystem.” (03:28 | Emily Griffin) 
• “I burned out from DJing and the music world. I burned out from tech. I’m on the other side of rising up from that hard learning and redefining what success is for me is making an impact. It’s part of what drives me and why I care about the connection piece and the being human piece at work.” (32:11 | Emily Griffin)

 

Links

Connect with Emily Griffin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilygriffin/

Instagram: @emilygriffingrrl https://www.instagram.com/emilygriffingrrl/

Great Mondays Book: https://www.greatmondays.com/book

 

Connect with Zovig Garboushian:

Website: www.boldnessablazecoaching.com

 

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm