'The time has come,' the Walrus said, 'To talk of many things:"

Yes, the time has indeed come.

After 22 years, 3 months, 2 weeks, 3 days, I've decided to leave Microsoft.

Yes,  you've heard correct. It's time!

My time with Microsoft started way back on 1991, in Canberra, as a Systems Engineer. I was the first technical guy in a small team of 4 people. I got to Canberra after I had followed a girl (who I had met in Melbourne) all the way to Canberra., That girl became my wife, and over the journey we've spent time in Seattle, Sydney, Seattle again and ultimately Melbourne, which is where I started. Funny that.

The career summary looks a bit like this

May 1991

Sep 1993

Microsoft Canberra, working as a Systems Engineer

Sep 1993

Aug 1994

Microsoft  Corp, @ Executive Briefing Center

Aug 1994

Oct 1995

Microsoft Corp, in the Advanced Technology Group, working on Interactive TV

Nov 1995

May 1997

Microsoft Australia, MSN Technical Director

Jun 1997

Jun 1999

ninemsn CTO

Jun 1999

May 2001

MicrosofT Region, Digital Media dude

May 2001

Aug 2007

Microsoft Australia, Developer & Platform Evangelism (DPE)

Aug 2007

May 2011

Microsoft Corp, Director – DPE Field Community & Readiness

May 2011

Sep 2013

Microsoft, Principle Technical Evangelist, WW Technical Evangelist  Role Owner

 

Along the way we had 4 children who have grown up immersed in all things Microsoft - they all have their Nokia Lumias, and Windows 8 tablets, and love their XBOX, I don’t think this will change in a hurry.

And then, there's my other family - the awesome evangelists I hired, the communitymembers who helped spread the word of the Microsoft platform - from .net, hailstorm, silverlight, to windows phone, windows, windows azure, and everything else in between.

Thank you all for making my Microsoft time very enjoyable and not feel like just a job.

This week also sees TechEd on the Gold Coast - and while I am there, we recorded the 100th episode of FranklySpeaking with my good friends Andrew Coates and Michael Kordahi, where I speak with the guys about my time at Microsoft. I had fun recording the session

I now have a chance to look around, smell the roses and find that next great job that isnt really a job which I can commit my heart and soul into, just like the last one.

I wont be blogging here anymore - but you can find me at https://frankarr.com,