Shalen's blog

Thank you Swype! (farewell)

(copy of farewell email, printed with permission)

Swype family,

How many times in our lives do we get an opportunity to work on a product  like Swype that has the potential to touch lives of billions of people? Once, if we are lucky. Twice, if we are golden! (people like Cliff :-)).  I find myself lucky to be part of the successful Swype journey and am writing this email to express my gratitude. 

It was about 1.5 years ago that in the pursuit of my following my heart, I’d said bye to the mothership Microsoft, joined the Swype family and had very passionately demoed Swype to Bill Gates that week. The Swype journey with the team has been incredible – it provided me an opportunity to work with our OEM customers in Asia, on Swype features, as well as on evangelization. All along, I feel I’ve grown immensely and most importantly have become a better person. Thank you for helping me grow! Many thanks to Nuance as well for the acquisition!

If I can do anything for anyone including references, introductions or connections, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

What’s Next:

Today, I’m following my heart a step further wrt entrepreneurship. I’m joining a very early stage startup called Clipboard as their Product Manager. www.clipboard.com  Clipboard service allows you to clip, save and share parts of web pages. The service is in private beta invite mode only. If you want try it out, please go to www.clipboard.com/register and use the invite code “just4u”

I’m also making trailer of my next film  “520East” in 2012…

Finally please enjoy this quick video I made for some sweet memories from Swype…

Best,

-Shalendra

Leaving Microsoft (copy of farewell email, Oct 29, 2010)

(Farewell mail reprinted from my Facebook, Leaving Microsoft Facebook Status) 

Fellow Microsofties,

16 years ago, a young boy in India who couldn’t speak or understand English would stand outside computer shops staring at Windows OS. As years passed by, life gave this young boy a little chance, he somehow learned English, made it to the US without any $ and has had the honor of serving at Microsoft for exactly 5 years. And today, he is writing this farewell email to express his deepest gratitude to you. My last day at Microsoft is Monday, November 1st, 2010.

I came to the US 7 years ago for my MS in CS and was introduced to Microsoft by one of Bill Gates Technical Assistant while helping develop an open source anti-spam filter CRM 114 Discriminator. Being an open source supporter, I was initially hesitant about joining Microsoft. I soon realized that it’s a company with strong values that changes the world through technology and philanthropy. My hesitation disappeared and I joined Microsoft upon my graduation. In my first role I served as the Program Manager for shipping Junk Email Filters in Outlook, Windows Mail, Windows Mail Desktop and Entourage.  In my second role, I served as the Program Manager to build PlayReady DRM features to make DRM invisible for end-users and also enable the Zune experience on Windows Phone 7. I learned a lot about Program Management, leadership without authority and genuinely bonding with people. Thanks to all of you for the lessons you have taught me.

Microsoft has benefited me in many different ways both professionally and personally. I have become a mature professional and a better person with a greater degree of interpersonal awareness. I discovered my gifts, potential and compassion here. I received immense affection, growth opportunities and awards including All Star, Honorable Mention at Presentation Idol 2010, Vice President Appointed Leader (VPAL) and a finalist in the Microsoft Loaned Executive Program 2010. I was also empowered to drive initiatives for fund-raising for Giving campaign including partnership with Soccer Saves and Sounders FC.  During these 5 years, I was also lucky enough to meet and interact with Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, Steve Wozniak, Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani and Mark Zuckerberg in Redmond and Silicon Valley. The best part of my Microsoft experience has been the relationships I have formed with world-class Microsoft professionals. I feel that my experience at Microsoft cannot be matched at any other company and if I had to do it all over again, I would do it in a heartbeat. I’m grateful to Microsoft. If there is anything I can do for you or Microsoft ever, please do not hesitate to contact me.  My information is in the attached vcard file. 

Thank you for the memories! (video)

Kind regards,

-Shalendra