After more than 30 years of service to Microsoft, Jeff Bogdan was at a crossroads when his role ended in February. Reflecting on his departure, Bogdan said, “‘Open to work’ is not a good enough word; it’s more like ‘open to anything.'”
Bogdan, a former Microsoft Windows learning and development (L&D) director, shared his feelings on LinkedIn. Looking back on his illustrious 33-year tenure at Microsoft, Bogdan said, “My entire MS career has been incredible. The three products I’m most proud of are Windows Phone , Zune, and Windows 95.”
But Bogdan’s most rewarding experience came during his last two years spearheading an L&D role at Windows. However, despite his contributions, Bogdan found himself at odds with the company’s restructuring efforts. He revealed that he left at the same time that HR adopted a hub-and-spoke model for L&D, a concept he was an avid supporter of.
“Unfortunately, my department already had an L&D team in place, but there was no place for me at the table,” Bogdan lamented. Undeterred, he expressed optimism about embarking on his new career journey.
“An easy start is with consulting. I see consulting as a way to learn more about the industry and understand where my expertise can best move it forward,” he writes.
Bogdan’s experience is emblematic of broader changes within Microsoft. Earlier this year, the tech giant announced significant job cuts, affecting about 8 percent of its gaming division, including about 1,900 positions at Activision Blizzard and Xbox.
