Michael Smith is GM for Startups APAC at Microsoft. Apart from Microsoft, he is a Deep Generalist practitioner and occasional angel investor.

👋🏼 How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

I get this all the time with all my jobs from some family members or relatives, and I usually say, "Every time you click or scroll on those apps on your phone, the apps communicate with computers in giant buildings in order to process what you are doing. I help sell that stuff sitting in the giant building."

🧐 What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

I keep a very set schedule. M - W - F in the office. T-Th at home. Calendly links for others to grab certain blocks of time and a coffee link for anyone to meet up on each M-W-F. I think it is important to be available to the ecosystem and do what I can to help — regardless of whether it is a potential customer or not. I try to practice deep work, and that only happens if you master your schedule.

🏆 What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

Wow. Tough question. I gotta say it's right now. My new role as a GM is giving me a chance to combine tech, sales and business development all into one across one of the hottest Startup scenes in the world. I am grateful to Microsoft and the APAC leadership team for giving me this chance. I look back at my jobs and journey with a certain amount of shock but always feel super blessed.

🔍 What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year?‍

I think the world is coming to grips with how real the climate problems are, which means you see and will continue to see more investments in the space, which is awesome.

Given this, I keep an eye on all the sustainable tech in the space and all the intersections into various business models.

💼 What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry?

Build a network, be humble, have empathy and care about your work. This will allow you to go farther than you think. I subscribe to the notion of being a deep generalist, and I think this helps people new to the industry in how to frame their career journey.

🗣 What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours?

How silly hustle culture is and how most people don't understand the fundamentals of how businesses are made — Startups or otherwise.

🎥 What's your favorite movie/TV show?

Ozark

🍨 What's your go-to ice cream flavor?‍

Cookies and Cream. Isn't that the only correct answer?