Midori Lawler
Midori Lawler’s passion is working with startups and giving back. She joined Microsoft in 2005 and has been working with tech startups for the past 15 years. She launched the Microsoft BizSpark program in 2008 which was the first startup program in the company’s history. In typical startup fashion, she has worn many hats, but her specialty is Marketing Communications and Events. She was initially responsible for driving awareness of the BizSpark brand and adoption of Microsoft technologies but over the years has expanded her expertise to include Program Operations, Field Enablement, Partner Programs, Data & Analytics and Content Strategy. Midori currently manages the teams that provide Program Support and Technical Enablement for startups in the Microsoft for Startups program. She is a startup ambassador, always seeking to find ways to help startups.
In 2014, Midori was one of seven employees chosen to be a Microsoft Loaned Professional and run the annual Microsoft Giving Campaign. Her team was responsible for engaging all US employees, providing education and training, connecting employees to volunteer opportunities that align to their skills and interests and continuing to nurture the culture of giving. The team raised over $113M for nonprofits and schools.
Midori has a strong personal interest in increasing sepsis awareness. Although she has not had sepsis herself, in the past 4 years, several people she loves have had sepsis, including her mom, best friend, cousin and family friend. She has personally witnessed how life threatening this illness can be and how difficult it is to live with the consequences of sepsis, including loss of limbs.
Earlier in her career, Midori worked in Technology Marketing for several hi-tech startups, as well as established corporations such as Dell Computer, Motorola and IBM. She has a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Pepperdine University. Midori has two sons and is based in Seattle, Washington.
