LASCRUCES-One day, after he had worked for IBM for about six years, New Mexico State University graduate Kevin Johnson told his wife, June, that he was thinking about a change.
"I want to work for a small company" he said with a chuckle. “I came to June one day and said,’ You know, I'm interviewing at this company called Microsoft'. And she said.' Microsoft? I've never heard of that. Are you sure you want to do it?'
The rest, as they say, is history. He is now a division president.
Johnson, a native of Los Alamos and a 1981 graduate of NMSU with a business degree, was on campus Friday to speak at a session of The Garrey E. and Katherine T.Carruthers Seminar Series. Garrey Carruthers, former governor of New Mexico, businessman and currently dean of the college of business at NMSU, started the series last year with his wife to bring speakers to campus.
More than 100 people turned out to hear Johnson in a standing room-only setting at the NMSU Senate Gallery at the Corbett Center.
Kevin Boberg, associate dean of the College of Business, introduced Johnson as," One of a handful of people on the strategic planning team," at Microsoft, a group that includes co-founder Bill Gates.
An energetic Johnson explained how a small-town boy could reach the heights of business.
"I'm a believer that every single individual should follow their passion," he said." Doesn't matter what it is. If you're passionate about something, you're going to be energetic you're going to be motivated. You're going to have personal satisfaction. The more you invest in it, the more you're going to get in return."
As president of the Platforms & Services Division of Microsoft, Johnson said that he has overall responsibility for product development, marketing and strategy for the Windows system business.
"That business is $15 billion," he said.
He also handles the company foray into online business in the form of search engines and other products.
"Right now that's a $3 billion business," he said.
With Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer and five other senior executives, Johnson serves on the Senior leadership Team that sets overall strategy and direction for Microsoft.
Brook Stockberger
September 29, 2007
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