LYDIA GUSTAFSON
Phoenix
Summary
Results-driven event management professional with a track record of delivering high-impact events through strategic planning and meticulous logistical coordination. Demonstrated expertise in stakeholder engagement and managing diverse event types, leading to enhanced attendee experiences and cost-effective solutions. Exceptional communication and organizational skills enable seamless execution under pressure, consistently exceeding client expectations through innovative problem-solving and teamwork. Key competencies include strategic planning, logistical coordination, and adaptability, ensuring successful and memorable events.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Program Manager – Strategy, Planning, & Employee Engagement
Simplicity Consulting
10.2023 - Current
- Company Overview: Microsoft Customer Service & Support
- Developed innovative programs focused on employee development, experience, and culture that align with Microsoft's Leadership Principles, Manager Expectations, Values, and Cultural Attributes
- Utilized Prosci change management methodologies to support various people programs, including conducting impact analysis and readiness assessments for change management
- Created and implemented comprehensive change management plans and interventions to positively influence the company's culture
- Spearheaded organization Manager Development & Excellence programs, creating strategic learning content, cohesive cohort programs, and establishing a manager advisory council
- Enhanced leadership capabilities, improved organization manager respect, and AI Active Learning employee feedback scores, surpassing Microsoft's and receiving top positive sentiment year-over-year
- Successfully implemented Prosci change management methodologies to drive manager excellence programs and AI adoption across the manager community, resulting in enhanced leadership capabilities and increased AI utilization
- Developed Awards and Recognition strategies, boosting employee recognition by 26% and surpassing Microsoft's 'Recognition Satisfaction' values
- Collaborated with departments to improve diversity and inclusion programs, resulting in higher 'Inclusive Culture' and 'Aspirational Culture' feedback than Microsoft
- Led Employee Resource Group teams across the organization, effectively managing communications and events
- Enhanced Diversity & Inclusion engagement, achieving over 140,000 Viva Engage impressions and successfully organizing monthly D&I events
- Directed the Accessibility team within an organization of 15,000 employees, promoting a globally inclusive culture and ensuring full accessibility of all content and meetings, thus enhancing both employee and customer experiences
- Successfully managed a multi-million-dollar project, planning and organizing global managers' summits
- Improved connections and fostered a strong sense of community among a manager community of over 1,100 managers
- Effectively communicated the strategic mission of the organization, ensuring seamless execution and widespread adoption
- Conducted comprehensive data analysis, achieving high feedback scores with an average of 4.75/5
- Microsoft Customer Service & Support
Senior Program Manager - Azure Engineering Learning, Cloud + AI
MICROSOFT
Redmond
06.2019 - 05.2023
- Company Overview: Redmond, WA
- Developed and managed Cloud + AI learning programs and strategy for an organization of 15,000+ employees
- Co-facilitated and oversaw 95,625 training sessions, covering new hire onboarding, advanced learning, technical talks, cultural training, customer workshops, mentorship programs, and business training
- Created a developer onboarding program, reducing time to first PR by 27% and increasing monthly PRs by 38%
- Led change management for Cloud + AI learning programs, boosting employee engagement, learning outcomes, and organizational culture
- Managed a learning community of 80+ Microsoft leaders, enhancing collaboration and best-practice sharing
- Analyzed employee surveys, improving team culture, belonging, values, and well-being
- Assisted 7,000+ leaders in documenting objectives, customer relations, compliance, and processes, improving collaboration
- Developed organization-wide presentations and worked closely with stakeholders on OKRs and roadmaps
- Oversaw the Cloud + AI Intern Program, onboarding 2,000+ interns with a hybrid model
- Coordinated hybrid events for 10,000+ developers and product managers on Generative AI and Copilot adoption
- Launched and managed a hands-on hackathon workshop, fostering a customer-driven culture in software development
- Managed the Learning Management System (LMS), automating enrollment and communications
- Redmond, WA
- Managed event timelines, ensuring all milestones are met and communicated to relevant parties.
- Conducted post-event evaluations, gathering feedback to measure success and identify areas for improvement.
- Analyzed event performance data to report ROI and effectiveness to senior management.
- Designed and maintained spreadsheets documenting vendor, facility and guest information.
- Facilitated smooth on-site operations, resolving unforeseen issues promptly to avoid disruptions.
- Served as primary contact person responsible for responding to inquiries about events.
- Developed and maintained relationships with key stakeholders, including sponsors, partners, and suppliers.
- Evaluated event performance metrics against established goals and objectives.
- Oversaw logistics including venue selection, catering, transportation, and accommodation arrangements.
- Oversaw advanced event registration and day-of check-in to handle high volume of guests.
- Crafted and disseminated event briefing materials for presenters, staff, and volunteers.
- Created detailed timelines for the execution of each event.
- Sourced speakers and special guests for wide range of corporate, industry and charitable events.
Senior Program Manager - Business Operations, Azure Engineering
MICROSOFT
Redmond
08.2018 - 06.2019
- Company Overview: Redmond, WA
- Implemented and managed the recruiting, hiring, and onboarding process, enabling Azure hiring managers to hire and onboard over 40 FTEs per month
- Worked with the Chief of Staff, HR, and leadership on annual budgeting, headcount planning, and semester planning
- Ensured team alignment and sustained the Rhythm of Business (ROB) for effective communication, consistent planning, and execution throughout the organization, contributing to operational efficiency
- Implemented leadership-directed rhythms, encompassing comprehensive financial and strategic planning, key results reviews, and organizational processes
- Proactively monitored team health, partnered with leadership to address cultural issues, and led impactful diversity and inclusion initiatives with HR
- Created clear presentations and messaging for team OKRs, enhancing executive communications
- Presented strategic materials to senior management, securing approval for extra training budget
- Managed leadership meetings, speaking engagements, and integrated communication plans for organizational consistency
- Innovatively designed and managed an Azure-wide University Recruiting onboarding program and community for an organization comprising over 15,000 employees
- Redmond, WA
Business Manager - ANZ Public Sector Sales, Amazon Web Services
AMAZON
Seattle
01.2018 - 08.2018
- Company Overview: Seattle, WA
- Partnered with the sales leadership team in driving business strategies, creating and managing Rhythm of the Business, identifying, and driving organizational initiatives, and business process to meet strategic objectives and priorities
- Managed speaker and customer engagements at ANZ regional Amazon Web Services customer summits, achieving record-breaking attendance and high customer satisfaction
- Led change management efforts to align sales strategies with organizational goals, enhancing cross-functional collaboration and driving successful business outcomes
- Demonstrated innovative thinking and effective project coordination skills in developing and arranging promotional materials and customer events
- Monitored and documented customer sales interactions and relationships, ensuring customer satisfaction and fostering a culture of customer obsession
- Seattle, WA
Program Manager - Amazon HR Services
AMAZON
Seattle
03.2016 - 01.2018
- Company Overview: Seattle, WA
- Developed, implemented, and managed Amazon's global HR new hire training program, ensuring HR staff's compliance with established policies and procedures
- Designed and developed training processes and program standards based on collected data, stakeholder feedback, and learning objectives, addressing business challenges, and improving HR services globally
- Spearheaded change management and adoption of HR policies and processes across the HR community at Amazon, resulting in improved compliance and operational efficiency
- Executed strategies that enhanced business impact while improving efficiencies in administration and deployment, connecting HR services, processes, programs, and tooling to new hire HR employees worldwide
- Seattle, WA
HR Administrator - Amazon Web Services
AMAZON
Seattle
03.2015 - 03.2016
- Company Overview: Seattle, WA
- Provided comprehensive HR generalist and operational support for three HR directors at Amazon Web Services, showcasing expertise in HR, talent acquisition, talent management, and program management
- Coordinated HR Technology team and organization-wide meetings across the APAC and EMEA regions, ensuring seamless communication and collaboration
- Enhanced HR analysis tools and systems through close collaboration with HR departments, demonstrating meticulous diligence in analyzing and reporting employee data using an advanced HR toolset
- Supported employee relations teams by addressing and resolving employee concerns and promoting a positive work environment
- Assisted leadership with talent management initiatives, including performance reviews, succession planning, and career development programs, contributing to the growth and retention of top talent
- Collaborated with recruiting and onboarding, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience for new hires, and supporting hiring managers in process management
- Conducted employee feedback and analysis, utilizing data-driven insights to inform HR strategies and improve employee satisfaction and engagement
- Seattle, WA
Executive Assistant - Amazon Web Services
AMAZON
Seattle
01.2014 - 03.2015
- Company Overview: Seattle, WA
- Effectively managed the day-to-day scheduling and planning for four leaders and their teams, encompassing over 5,000 employees
- Utilized technical, organizational, and project management skills to ensure seamless operations
- Received multiple commendations for adeptly managing their agendas and prioritizing tasks
- Coordinated and executed key deliverables, monitored pending tasks, and ensured timely completion, resulting in improved productivity and alignment across teams
- Implemented a culture of continuous process improvement, focusing on operational efficiency and quality support, leading to higher satisfaction levels among leadership, stakeholders, and team members
- Facilitated cross-functional collaboration and communication, enhancing overall effectiveness and cohesion of teams by aligning all members with organizational goals and objectives
- Organized and managed high-profile events and meetings, ensuring efficient logistical management and contributing to the successful execution of strategic initiatives and projects
- Seattle, WA
Education
Master of Business Administration - Human Resource Management
City University of Seattle
Seattle, WA01.2013
Bachelor of Arts - Management Information Systems
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA01.2010
Skills
- Employee Training
- Instructional Design Skills
- Workplace Culture Engagement
- Program Management
- Talent Development
- Leadership Training
- Employee Engagement
- Project Execution Management
- Analytical Decision Making
- Diversity Initiatives
- Change Implementation
- User-Centric Design
- Skill Development Focus
- Human Resources Operations
- Relationship Management Expertise
- Pipeline Coordination
- Workflow Optimization
- Workplace Relationship Management
- Hiring Strategy Development
- Organizational Growth Strategies
- Performance Improvement Strategy
- Workforce Development Initiatives
- Facilitation Best Practices
- Employee Onboarding
- Workplace Development Initiatives
- Strategic Management Skills
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Business Continuity Planning
- KPI Management
- Human Resources Policy Management
- Strategic Execution
- Proficient in Change Management Techniques
- Skilled in Agile Frameworks
- Experienced in Data Analysis
- Market Trend Analysis
- Data Reporting
- Applies AI Tools
- Implements Accessibility Standards
- Proficient in Applicant Tracking Systems
- Oversees Learning Management Systems
- Event Management
- Project Planning
- Program Development
- Marketing Materials Development
- Event Promotion
- Financial Budgeting
Certification
- PHR Certification, 03/01/24, HRCI
- Change Management Professional Certificate, 12/01/24, LinkedIn
- AI For Organizational Leaders Certification, 01/01/25, Microsoft and LinkedIn
- MBA
- PHR
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Senior Program Manager – Strategy, Planning, & Employee Engagement
Simplicity Consulting
10.2023 - Current
Senior Program Manager - Azure Engineering Learning, Cloud + AI
MICROSOFT
06.2019 - 05.2023
Senior Program Manager - Business Operations, Azure Engineering
MICROSOFT
08.2018 - 06.2019
Business Manager - ANZ Public Sector Sales, Amazon Web Services
AMAZON
01.2018 - 08.2018
Program Manager - Amazon HR Services
AMAZON
03.2016 - 01.2018
HR Administrator - Amazon Web Services
AMAZON
03.2015 - 03.2016
Executive Assistant - Amazon Web Services
AMAZON
01.2014 - 03.2015
- PHR Certification, 03/01/24, HRCI
- Change Management Professional Certificate, 12/01/24, LinkedIn
- AI For Organizational Leaders Certification, 01/01/25, Microsoft and LinkedIn
- MBA
- PHR
Master of Business Administration - Human Resource Management
City University of Seattle
Bachelor of Arts - Management Information Systems
Western Washington University
Similar Profiles
CHRISTINA HOWARDCHRISTINA HOWARD
Client Success Manager, Microsoft at Simplicity ConsultingClient Success Manager, Microsoft at Simplicity Consulting
TIFFANY SERELLTIFFANY SERELL
CLIENT SUCCESS ASSOCIATE at SIMPLICITY CONSULTINGCLIENT SUCCESS ASSOCIATE at SIMPLICITY CONSULTING
Erin HamisterErin Hamister
User Experience Researcher at Simplicity Consulting - As A Microsoft ClientUser Experience Researcher at Simplicity Consulting - As A Microsoft Client