Dametra Johnson-Marletti’s Post

We are so heads down every day driving the “business” of Gaming that we can sometimes forget BOTH just how cool this business is AND what a privilege it is to do what we get to do everyday - creating and delivering amazing game content and experiences to the world…. working alongside an awesome squad. This weekend’s Xbox Games Showcase was pure fire. Huge kudos to all of our creators for building world class content that brings joy to millions! #TeamXbox #WomeninGaming #XboxGamesStudios #Activision #Blizzard #Bethesda #microsoftlife

This week was a complete whirlwind as the Microsoft Consumer Sales Organization descended on Redmond, Bangkok, and Munich to kick off Elevate, our annual Sales Summit. You just cannot value enough the energy, morale, and momentum that is created when hundreds of incredibly smart, passionate, and talented people come together anchored around a common mission. Given my team’s mission - to empower and connect people with the games and entertainment experiences they want, to enjoy with the people they want, anywhere they want - it was particularly special for me to have our new Gaming Digital Sales Team together for the first time. What a crew! Super proud of the work we do and the impact we have across the Gaming industry, Microsoft, and the Consumer Sales Organization!

Any day you get to spend with incredibly smart, accomplished, and amazing people is a good day; but when you spend it with five female phenoms in their profession and you’re closing out Women’s History Month, it’s especially meaningful. This week I had the privilege of speaking on a panel with some phenomenal women across the Microsoft Consumer Sales Organization – Ami Silverman, Jocelyn O. Moore, MBA , Kelly Soligon, and Kristina Michalsky. We shared common experiences, like being grounded in your values, finding your voice, establishing a healthy life balance, navigating imposter syndrome and more. It was grounding to hear the pivotal moments in our respective journeys and see how they’ve influenced the leaders we are today. What a powerhouse crew – so honored to have been included! #representationmatters #womenshistorymonth #microsoftlife

We’re always so heads down at work, digging in on the immediate business issues before us, and while important – it felt great to put my head up to represent Microsoft externally, and give back internally this week. I was honored to speak at ADWEEK CommerceWeek in NYC, where I joined a panel with Vox Media’s Camilla Cho. Although Camilla and I work in different industries, we found that our approaches to e-commerce have a lot in common—especially when it comes to customer-centered innovation. I was proud to share Microsoft’s dedication in this space. For the double win, I had the pleasure of giving back by speaking to two of our internal Microsoft Employee Resource Groups. Where I talked about inclusive leadership in our industry, making D&I real, why representation matters as a key component of leadership, and how my intersectionality as a black female executive influences my impact for Microsoft. All in all, a terrific way to wrap up this week – and a great way to close out Black History Month and welcome in Women’s History Month on this rare leap year day. #microsoftlife #xbox #gamingforgood #givingback #leadershipmatters #representationmatters

It was a privilege to share my thoughts on leadership and creating high performing teams with Global Woman Leader Magazine. It took me a “minute” (as the kids say), in my career to understand that being a student of leadership is essential to both individual and organizational success. Where you are continually learning and evolving your leadership approach to both adapt to an increasingly complex business climate and constantly striving to acquire, retain, and grow talent to drive future long-term growth. The philosophies I employ in these areas, are not only a result of my own leadership learnings of getting right and wrong, but also an amalgamation of the many amazing leaders I've worked with over the years. While I’m committed to learning every day, these are currently the ideas I strive to bring to life for my team within the Microsoft Consumer Sales organization. #Leadership #Mentorship

For me, gaming has always been more than just a hobby; it's provided a deeper journey into learning and leadership. It's where I've had the opportunity to give back in many ways, including mentoring and sponsoring others, just as I have been supported and guided throughout my career. It’s also been a great medium for bringing people together -- players from all corners of the globe and all walks of life can come together to collectively experience the joy of adventure. Black History Month kicks off today, and we're doing something special at Xbox to continue to make gaming special – we're partnering with Gameheads, an organization that helps prepare and train young developers of color for careers in gaming and technology. Through the powerful medium of gaming, students learn to code, design, and create projects that reflect great storytelling, ultimately providing a showcase for these talented diverse creators. I've written a reflection on gaming's power to drive change, and had the opportunity to chat with AFROTECH about this collaboration. I'm really proud of the strides Microsoft and Xbox are making in magnifying Black voices and broadening our platform's diversity. It's an exciting time, and honestly, I'm thrilled for the amazing things we have lined up.  Here's to making gaming for everyone, truly for everyone! #xbox #gamingforeveryone #microsoftlife

The holiday shopping season is officially in full swing! This represents one of the most important times of year for our Microsoft Consumer Sales team. A time where the entire organization is even more focused on putting our customers at the center of the experiences, products, and services we deliver. Last week, I had the opportunity to spend time visiting New York City with my fellow Consumer Sales leaders. We not only had the great pleasure of meeting with our local NYC team at the 5th Ave Microsoft Experience Center – who never fail to raise the bar on customer passion and brand love – but we also had the opportunity to visit and learn from many of our retail partners in the region. As much as our world is increasingly digital, having these in-person, on the ground interactions are still so vital to our business. This trip was a valuable learning opportunity to both better understand and get closer to our customers, and to garner rich outside in perspectives from the innovation partners we met with. I'm grateful for the curiosity and drive of our Consumer Sales team, and our internal and external partners. Will be a wild and exciting holiday season, can’t wait to see the results in the new year. #microsoftlife, #holidayseason

There are many great things about being on Team Microsoft (as evidenced by the TIME Magazine 2023 World's Best Companies list). However, there is none greater than how we show up during the month of October. October is GIVE month, when our Employee Giving campaign takes center stage and we focus on giving time, money, and skills to address issues facing our world. This year I spent the first two weeks of GIVE month travelling to Uganda and Kenya with Medical Teams International (MTI), where I serve on the Board. We visited and immersed ourselves in several of the expansive refugee settlements and clinics where MTI delivers lifesaving medical services. We connected directly with refugees to understand their journeys, and with our inspiring local MTI staff – letting all know they are seen. We witnessed firsthand the pressing challenges faced by the community—like supply shortages, food scarcity, and other critical resource deficits. This experience was truly eye-opening and life changing. A couple of perspective broadening weeks filled with service, community, and profound learning. As we look to wrap up GIVE month at Microsoft, it's a great opportunity to take personal inventory of one’s capacity to more deeply understand the lived experiences of those in need and take action to make a difference. #microsoftlife #giveback #bethechange #service

Honored to be featured alongside this inspiring group of women in MPN. Looking across this esteemed group of leaders, it’s clear there is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership and no single path to successful impact. Still, embracing authenticity, leading with an open mind, and paying it forward to invest in the next generation of women in leadership is a passion we all share. Congrats to peers recognized here - all are a testament to generations of progress and growth. Media Play News: October 2023 https://lnkd.in/gbmTDSYS