Danny Bernstein’s Post

View profile for Danny Bernstein

Investor at HawkTower, ex-Google/Microsoft

Today is my first day at Microsoft! I am thrilled to be joining the Microsoft Teams Consumer product team. Joining Microsoft is a dream come true. : ) I grew up in the aisles of CompUSA, scouring the shelves for discounted software, eagerly awaiting version releases of Windows. Last fall, Google graciously provided space for me to explore the next step in my career. To start, I approached product leaders in my network, and made a short list of second-degree connections I hoped to meet. I optimized for finding the ideal learning environment where my skills and experience would be most valued.   In November, John I. C. Gomes, a brilliant and generous classmate, invited us to a Stanford football game with a few of his good friends, and one of those happened to be Manik Gupta from Microsoft (ex Google and Uber).  During the game, in true Silicon Valley fashion, Manik and I mostly ignored the sports on the field, and instead ranged through topics like Web 2.0 learnings, friends in common, personal values, and career. In his understated way, he expounded on why Microsoft, the Teams opportunity, culture, his team, and his newly-hired product leader, Amit Fulay. I knew Amit well - we once worked with the NFL to bring Google Hangouts into fantasy football.  Manik, Amit and I kept in contact, and in January, I met with an extraordinary group of Microsoft CVPs who were equal parts accomplished and approachable, facilitated by a heroic executive recruiter, Lisa Dembo. Together, they helped me summon the courage to conclude what’s been an incredible professional chapter at Google.  Microsoft embodies the people-first, growth-mindset culture that I sought for my next career opportunity. I couldn’t be more excited to lead a few emerging consumer product areas for Microsoft Teams, learn from this incredible group of people, help enable their impact and success, and build great products for new and existing users around the world.  Lastly, thanks to everyone who advised me during this journey. I feel very fortunate to have such generous friends, colleagues and mentors, and plan to pay it forward for many years to come.

Amit Fulay

Vice President of Product, Microsoft | Board Member, Nike Strength | (xMeta, xGoogle)

2y

Danny, Welcome to Microsoft and the Team(s)! I am super thrilled to be able to work together again. We are extremely lucky to have you join us. Let’s go make some magic together

John I. C. Gomes

Partner at Bain & Co. | Northwestern - Kellogg School of Management | Stanford GSB

2y

Awesome news, Danny! Congrats and all the best at Microsoft!

Patrick Jabal

VP Global Partnerships, Google | Sr. Advisor | Board Member | Harvard MBA | fmr Entrepreneur, CEO | Value creation, innovation, through strategic partnerships & licensing (e.g. data, content, IP)

2y

Congratulations Danny Bernstein, and Manik and team!

Olatooke Ola

Reconciliation and Settlement officer

2y

Congratulations

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Manik Gupta

CVP, Microsoft Teams; BoD @CarGurus; ex-CPO @Uber; ex-@GoogleMaps

2y

Danny - welcome to our team at Microsoft. Stanford didn't win that day but I would call this a huge win for us! Looking forward to building epic consumer products together on #MicrosoftTeams.

Juan Manuel Fernandez Cortina

Father, Husband, Board Member, Head of IB - M&A and ECM | Harvard MBA | Stanford GSB Alumni, NACD CD™

2y

Danny Bernstein, you show depth and gratitute in all you do including sharing this story of the road to your new opportunity at Microsoft. Microsoft is lucky to have you on their team.

Lisa Dembo

Director, Executive Search - Technology at Autodesk

2y

We are so lucky to have you join the team and Microsoft!

Michael Novak

Responsible AI Business Exec | Leveraging ChatGPT AI, Digital Identity & Web3 to drive value.

2y

Danny Thanks for sharing your path. You will fit well into the Microsoft model, coach, care growth mindset.

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And now we work together again! It’s been a while…!! 😊 Welcome to MS!

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Shyam Santhanam

Product Management | Alumni @StanfordGSB | Oracle Cloud

2y

Hearty congratulations Danny. All the very best with Microsoft.

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