This article appears in print in the May 2018 issue. Click here to subscribe.
From above photo: Off-the-shoulder Italian leather jacket: Pinko | Swarovski crystal monarch butterfly clutch: Luly Yang | Gold patent leather peep-toe platform shoes: Luly Yang | Pink tulle skirt: Wheels & Dollbaby (“Facebook: “Wheels-and-Dollbaby”)
The idea of a high-fashion tech worker might seem like an oxymoron, but that’s not the case with Dona Sarkar, who expertly wears bold dresses, tights and knee-high boots to work on any given day.
“On my first day at Microsoft, I arrived in a dress and 4-inch heels. People asked me if I worked in PR because I didn’t look like an engineer,” says Sarkar, who holds a degree in computer science and is the head of the Windows Insider Program. “I love pieces that are conversation starters: architectural shapes, colorful prints and interesting fabrics.”
Thirteen years later, and with several high-profile projects under her belt (including HoloLens, Windows Vista and the Windows search experience), Sarkar continues to turn heads as she successfully straddles the worlds of tech, fashion design, blogging (fibonaccisequinsblog.com) and writing (two of her nonfiction books are You Had Me at ‘Hello World’ and How to Salsa in a Sari).
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> Sarkar describes her personal style as “armor,” something that aligns with the thick skin she developed as she built her career in Seattle. “I’ve always done what people thought I shouldn’t do,” she says of her choice to work in the tech industry. “But I realized that if you don’t take initiative towards your goals, the people who come after you won’t either.” Her advice on breaking boundaries and chasing your dreams? “Be aware of your time and don’t get hung up on how your work and passions tie together,” she says.
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