What Microsoft’s Culture Shift Can Teach You in 2026 | Kathleen Hogan
Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais
Dr. Michael Gervais
4.7 • 1.7K Ratings
🗓️ 10 December 2025
⏱️ 81 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What if the future of work isn’t about technology at all — but about unlocking more humanity in each other?
On today’s episode, we sit down with Kathleen Hogan, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Microsoft, and one of the key architects behind the company’s cultural reinvention. Kathleen helped lead Microsoft’s shift from a “know-it-all” to a “learn-it-all” culture — embedding empathy, curiosity, and growth mindset across a global workforce of more than 220,000 people.
In this conversation, Kathleen and Dr. Michael Gervais explore what it really means to lead with humanity. She shares the moments that shaped her leadership — from facing cancer twice, to redefining success through purpose and connection — and the inner work required to help others unlock their potential.
In this conversation, we explore:
- How Kathleen helped Microsoft reimagine its culture from the inside out
- Why purpose and empathy are the foundation of effective leadership
- How to build psychological safety and courage in high-performing teams
- What it means to lead with curiosity instead of certainty
- The role AI can play in empowering — not replacing — human potential
At its heart, this episode is a reminder that leadership isn’t about knowing more — it’s about caring more.
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Transcript
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| 1:24.4 | When I went through cancer and my son was four, I had to shave my hair because I was going through |
| 1:29.8 | chemo. And I was sitting there playfully saying to James, do you like mommy with or without hair? |
| 1:36.4 | And this is probably one of those profound moments in my life. James looked me straight in the eye, |
| 1:42.8 | didn't hesitate, and said, Mommy, I love you just |
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... |
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