[A full list of MS@45 content, resources and the schedule for our online experiences on the weekend of April 4-5 can be found here. Join in the celebration with us! #MSFT45]

Helen Chiang is the current Studio Head of Minecraft at Microsoft where she is responsible for the vision and implementation of one of the most popular video games of all time. Attending school at Johns Hopkins University in the late 1990’s and majoring in Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science, Chiang graduated two years early. She eventually went on to attend the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania to study Marketing and Strategic Management.

Hired originally as an intern, Helen has been with Microsoft for 12 years and in January 2018 was promoted to her current position. Previously Senior Director of Business Strategy and Operations at Xbox, she has a strong understanding of what gamers want and has already had a major impact on the current and future culture of gaming. Chiang is the first woman of color to head a major gaming studio.

As a working mother, she has also been a vocal advocate for parental leave, more time-off for staff, and a better working environment for all employees. In 2018 Chiang said “I think here in the US we need more off-ramps from work, or opportunities to take a career break. Whether it’s parental leave, or elder care leave, or a sabbatical, we need opportunities for people to take a break and not have to start over from scratch when they come back.” Minecraft is currently the highest-selling PC game of all-time in large part to the incredible work Chiang has contributed in her time at Microsoft.