Kirsten Paust, a former executive at Fortive, recently joined Microsoft as a corporate vice president focusing on continuous improvement. Paust had spent eight years at Fortive and more than 12 years at Danaher, which spun off Fortive in 2016. She describes her decision to leave Fortive as tough but sees her new role at Microsoft as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to embed continuous improvement into the company’s culture using the power of AI. In her new role, Paust is empowering teams to streamline processes for greater innovation and efficiency.
Paust’s background includes involvement in Fortive’s partnership with Seattle startup studio Pioneer Square Labs, as well as earning an MBA from Harvard Business School and graduating from Whitman College. She believes her career journey has been a result of embracing new opportunities, persevering through challenges, and seizing the doors that luck presents. Other recent personnel changes in the Pacific Northwest include Scott Rockfeld joining Pictory as its chief marketing officer, Starbucks North America CEO Michael Conway retiring after just five months in the role, Athira Pharma terminating two executives as part of a company restructuring, and Seattle tech executive Gavin Hewitt joining product data startup Velou.
In her new role at Microsoft, Paust aims to lead a culture of continuous improvement by simplifying processes to drive innovation for customers and create a more fulfilling work environment for employees. She emphasizes the importance of embracing change and leveraging new technologies, such as AI, to enhance business operations and drive growth. Paust’s experience at Fortive and Danaher, along with her educational background in business, equips her with the skills needed to drive organizational transformation and instill a culture of improvement at Microsoft.
Scott Rockfeld, a former executive at Seattle startup Novel Effect and long-time Microsoft employee, recently joined video creation startup Pictory as its chief marketing officer. Starbucks North America CEO Michael Conway’s retirement after a short tenure and Athira Pharma’s restructuring and termination of key executives indicate ongoing changes in leadership across various industries in the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, Seattle-based sales executive Gavin Hewitt’s move to New York-based startup Velou and Seattle tech veteran Russ Mann joining the board of Vancouver-based online education company Thinkific highlight the region’s dynamic talent movement.
As companies in the Pacific Northwest undergo leadership changes and restructuring, individuals like Kirsten Paust are seizing new opportunities to drive organizational transformation and innovation. Paust’s decision to join Microsoft reflects her dedication to embedding continuous improvement practices in corporate culture and leveraging AI for growth and efficiency. With a background in executive leadership and a track record of embracing new challenges, Paust is poised to make a significant impact at Microsoft and contribute to the company’s success in the ever-evolving tech industry. The influx of experienced professionals into innovative startups and established companies in the region signals a thriving and dynamic business landscape in the Pacific Northwest.
