Alex Blanton
Security Program ManagerAI is analyzing your overall score…
Identifying your key strengths…
Evaluating your skill match against the job requirements…
Assessing your cultural and operational fit
AI is analyzing your overall score…
Identifying your key strengths…
Evaluating your skill match against the job requirements…
Assessing your cultural and operational fit
Principal Program Manager at Microsoft. People are the most interesting technology.
My passion is helping people connect with one another and with the information they need, and gaining a deep understanding of my customers so that I can build products and services that help them accomplish their goals. I believe that teams and communities can accomplish more than individuals, and that diverse personalities and working approaches are needed to build the best solutions--even if the process can be challenging at times. I get energized when I introduce people to one another, help them make connections, and work with them to solve problems. I enjoy coaching and guiding others--and learning from them. And I think it's important to set measurable goals, and to put systems in place to capture and report on the results of your efforts. Specialties: Learning & development, community management, content publishing, program management
Community RoundTable, Word of Mouth Marketing Association, and ComBlu
Community Strategist, Community Manager, and Community Specialist Certificates, Online Community Management
January 1, 2012 – January 1, 2012
Stanford University
Stanford Professional Publishing Course
January 1, 2001 – January 1, 2001
University of Washington
Certificate in Multimedia Production
January 1, 1997 – January 1, 1998
Middlebury College
B.A., American Literature
N/A – Present
Microsoft
Principal Community Program Manager, Office of the CTO / AI & ML Community
September 1, 2014 – Present
Microsoft
Senior Program Manager, TCN Communities Program
May 1, 2014 – September 1, 2014
Microsoft
Senior Program Manager, Engineering Excellence
February 1, 2012 – May 1, 2014
Microsoft
Principal Content Project Manager, Engineering Excellence
October 1, 2006 – February 1, 2012
Microsoft
Content Publishing Manager, Work Essentials
August 1, 2004 – October 1, 2006
Microsoft
Program Manager and Product Planner, Microsoft Learning
September 1, 2000 – August 1, 2004
Microsoft
Editor, Encarta Encyclopedia
October 1, 1997 – September 1, 2000
RhoTech/Comforce
Editor
September 1, 1994 – October 1, 1997
Yale University Press
Editorial Assistant
June 1, 1992 – March 1, 1994
Technical Leader Summit
February 1, 2019 – Present
I organize the twice-yearly Technical Leader Summit, which the Microsoft CTO hosts for the company's Technical Fellows, Distinguished Engineers, and Distinguished Scientists.
Organizer: 2017 AI Immersion Workshop @ Microsoft Build
January 1, 2017 – May 1, 2017
I organized a set of 5 full-day workshops for Microsoft Build attendees, which provided in-depth experience with Microsoft AI technologies.
Organizer: 2016 Data Science & Machine Learning Summit @ Microsoft Ignite
February 1, 2016 – September 1, 2016
I organized an event of more than 20 talks, designed to augment Ignite content by addressing the emerging interest in data science and machine learning among event attendees.
Organizer: 2015 Cortana Analytics Workshop
March 1, 2015 – September 1, 2015
An event that helped launch awareness of the Cortana Analytics suite of online services.
Lead Organizer: Machine Learning, AI & Data Science Conference (2014 - present)
October 1, 2014 – Present
Microsoft's premier internal conference, for ML, AI, and Data Science. Twice a year it attracts more than 4,000 employees from around the company and around the world. It is a community-driven event, and I am the lead organizer.
The NEW Community Manager Handbook Contributor
The Community Roundtable
June 24, 2026 – Present
Worldwide Communities - Community Lead 2018
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
Worldwide Communities - Community Lead 2019
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
Worldwide Communities - Community Lead 2020
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
Fall 2020 MLADS Conference Presenter
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
Fall 2020 MLADS Conference Volunteer
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
Connected Communities - Lead 2022
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
Spring 2021 MLADS Conference Volunteer
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
Connected Communities - Lead 2021
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
Fall 2021 MLADS Conference Volunteer
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
Community Leadership Development Program - Alumni
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
MLADS Idol
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
June 2022 MLADS Conference Volunteer
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
November 2022 MLADS Conference Volunteer
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
Connected Communities - Advisory Board 2023
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
December 2023 MLADS Conference Volunteer
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
MLADS Agents Conference Reviewer
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
Connected Communities - Lead 2023
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
Connected Communities - Advisory Board 2024
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
June 2024 MLADS Conference Presenter
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
June 2023 MLADS Conference Volunteer
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
Microsoft Global Hackathon 2024 Judge
Microsoft
June 24, 2026 – Present
Cultural Fit Analysis
The candidate's career at Microsoft, spanning various program management and community-focused roles, indicates a strong cultural fit for large, complex organizations. Their consistent involvement in community leadership, event organization, and knowledge sharing aligns with a collaborative and growth-oriented culture. However, the target role of 'Security Program Manager' requires a deeper, more explicit alignment with security-specific projects or initiatives beyond the brief mention of managing a 'Security' technical community. While the candidate has experience in program management, the direct relevance to security program management is not extensively detailed in their projects or descriptions, which might impact cultural fit for a highly specialized security role.
Soft Skills & Operational Fit
The candidate demonstrates strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills through their extensive experience in managing large-scale communities and events. Their ability to coordinate hundreds of volunteers, manage budgets, and align diverse stakeholders indicates excellent operational fit for a program management role. The focus on community building and knowledge sharing suggests a collaborative and influential approach to leadership.