Joe Whittinghill

Chief Learning Officer at Microsoft

Joe Whittinghill is the Chief Learning Officer for Microsoft. Joe leads a team responsible for activating culture and learning, building world-class leaders, and enabling the workforce of the future for Microsoft.  Joe has expertise in strategy, mergers and acquisitions, organization development, learning, executive development, the neuroscience of leadership, and culture activation.

Joe is one of the architects of the Microsoft Culture Framework: Cultural Attributes, Leadership Principles, Manager Expectations, and Values which are at the core of the company’s business and cultural transformation.

Prior to this role, Joe was the General Manager of the Merger & Acquisitions Venture Integration group.  During his six years leading the group, he built a practice that facilitated the closure and integration of more than 130 acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures representing $31B+ in consideration and adding over 34,000 new employees worldwide to Microsoft.           

He joined Microsoft in 1999, and has held various leadership roles responsible for the development of leaders, organizations and learning, as well as Finance.  His previous work in learning led to the design and building of what is now known as the Microsoft Learning Center in Redmond, WA.  Joe serves on a number of non-profit boards, is the past-chairman of the University of Montana Foundation Board of Trustees, Bersin Academy, and is a guest lecturer at universities on the topics of M&A, culture and leadership, and organization development.  His personal interests include fly-fishing, snow skiing, and anything Montana.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Montana and his M.S.O.D. from the Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business.