Rashida Hodge, CVP, Cloudand AI Platforms | Customer Success, Microsoft

Born and raised in the Virgin Islands, Rashida Hodge currently serves as CVP, Cloud and AI Platforms | Customer Success at Microsoft. Her passions are simple –technology, people, culture and diversity – but her achievements and impact are immense. What started as an interest in engineering (sparked by a library book on the island of St. Thomas and cultivated by her mother’s encouragement) led to a wildly successful and inspiring career in global artificial intelligence, now booming with the surge of AI integrating into our everyday lives. Rashida had the rare opportunity to be part of AI before the hype, first with IBM Watson, where she incubated AI like a startup inside a Fortune 500 company, and now at Microsoft, where she gets to drive it at global scale. Part global tech leader, part philanthropist, and all-around trailblazer, Rashida embodies what it takes to not only to achieve professional success, but to leverage your roots as your greatest strength, connect with people from all over the world, and invest in the future of the communities that raised you.

Share your background, and if there is one, a defining moment that led you to where you are today.

Growing up in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, shaped the foundation of who I am today. The islands taught me resilience, resourcefulness, and the pride of my Caribbean roots. My parents were teenagers when they had me, so I was raised by a village of grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, and neighbors. That diverse web of support gave me belonging and the belief that the impossible was possible.

I didn’t realize it then, but there was something special about growing up in a community where I saw people who looked like me across every socioeconomic level — doctors, teachers, store clerks, leaders — and where I was simply known for who I was. That environment gave me a quiet confidence I didn’t fully recognize until adulthood. My mother always reminded me: “Never let society define you. You define yourself and your outcomes.” That mindset has guided me ever since.

What inspired you to pursue your current path or career?

I first learned about engineering through a book I read as a child and the main character was a young girl who was an engineer solving problems. That was the first time I could picture myself in that role. My curiosity was fueled by my mother, who took me to the library to explore the different types of engineers and the paths to get there. Together, we researched what discipline I might pursue and what universities could help me achieve it. Growing up on a small island, I always knew there was a bigger world beyond what I could see, and I wanted to explore it, understand it, and be part of it. I didn’t have a mapped-out plan, but I had curiosity, determination, and a willingness to figure it out as I went. That spirit of exploration and pushing boundaries still drives me today.

Have you faced any significant challenges or setbacks, and how did you overcome them?

Moving from St. Thomas to Raleigh, North Carolina, sight unseen, was a challenge in itself. Early in my career, I was often the only one in the room who looked like me. That experience forced me to learn quickly, but it also gave me the opportunity to teach

others how to treat me and to understand my personal perspective. Because of my accent, my desires, ambitions, and intellect were often dismissed. That was hard. But it became a defining lesson in resilience. I had to decide how I wanted to show up.  What I would share, what I would dismiss, and what I would allow to grow me. Over time, I came to realize I carry what I call the “trifecta”: being Black, being a woman, and looking younger than I am. Instead of being frustrated by it, I chose to own it. And in owning it, I’ve been able to grow, to teach others along the way, and to open new doors. My difference is my vibe and the more I own it, the stronger I become.

What’s a lesson you’ve learned the hard way?

For a long time, I tried to avoid failure at all costs. But failure is a teacher. Comfort and growth don’t coexist, and the biggest breakthroughs often come after setbacks. Robert Frost said, “Two roads diverged in a wood…” taking the less-traveled road has been my path. Learning to recover from failures, to treat them as design points for growth, has been essential. I tell my mentees: if someone says life is linear, run. Life is hills and valleys, embrace the terrain.

How do you stay motivated during difficult times?

Faith and family. When things get tough, I remind myself that what I’m doing is bigger than me and my faith and family gives me the perspective to stay grounded. Caribbean culture is built on close knit families and friends. No one cares what your title is, where you work, or what awards you’ve won. They care about who you are. My family has always been direct and honest with me, and that honesty keeps me rooted in what really matters. I also still have friends from elementary school who knew me long before any title or recognition. To them, I’m the same Rashida I was growing up, and that is the best reminder to stay humble. In the best of times and the hardest of times, my family, my friends, and my community keep me grounded.

How do you define leadership and what does it mean to you?

Leadership isn’t about titles; it’s about impact and responsibility. It’s how you bring clarity, energy, and belief to a team so they can unlock potential they didn’t know they had. It’s not just what you achieve, but how you lead through respect, motivation, and purpose.

Who do you consider a role model or mentor, and what have you learned from them?

Mentorship, for me, has always been a cross-pollination of perspectives. Some of my mentors are younger, even college students, and they’ve taught me as much as seasoned executives. The constants are my parents. My mother taught me faith, humility, and the quiet strength of consistency. She also taught me that leadership doesn’t mean being loud, it means being steady, true to your values, and letting your work speak for itself. My father, through discipline and grit, instilled that nothing is given but everything is earned. I would not be where I am today if I hadn’t taken these lessons to heart.

How do you use your platform to inspire or uplift others?

I see my platform as both a privilege and a responsibility. Where I am today in technology, driving transformation at global scale is beyond belief. I could never have imagined or planned this journey, which is why I approach it with such gratitude and purpose. That gratitude fuels me to make sure others see possibility in my story. I want young people to know they can break barriers and where you start doesn’t define where you finish. When people read my story, I want them to see not just me, but my mother, Karen Hodge, whose sacrifices made it possible. Her belief and resilience live through me and I want others to carry that same belief.

What do you love most about what you do?

I love identifying talent and helping people grow. Seeing someone achieve what they once thought impossible is beautiful. I was given opportunities before I even knew I needed them, and I try to do the same for others. The gift is in the opportunity, but the

choice of what to do with it is theirs.

What’s a project or achievement you’re especially proud of?

The project I’m most proud of is my work in artificial intelligence. I had the rare opportunity to be part of AI before the hype,  first with IBM Watson, where we incubated AI like a startup inside a Fortune 500 company, and now at Microsoft, where I get to drive it at global scale. To experience both the early incubation of AI and now its broad adoption and acceleration has been one of the most fulfilling journeys of my career. On a personal level, I recently established a $1 million endowment with the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands to enable Virgin Islanders to attend NC State debt-free. This was a 20 year dream and something I planned and saved for over many years. It was important for me to sacrifice for this, because if someone hadn’t invested in my education when I was young, I wouldn’t be where I am today. My parents always told me that if you believe in something, it has to be a sacrifice. For me, education was that thing. To see this endowment come to life and create opportunities that once transformed my own life is something I couldn’t be more grateful for.

What’s one thing people often misunderstand about you or your work?

That my success has been seamless. Titles and achievements mask the setbacks, failures, and tears. There isn’t a section on LinkedIn or my resume that lists when I failed, cried, or struggled. Doing the work isn’t easy but the recovery from those setbacks is what makes you strong, and ultimately, what makes you your best.

What’s a habit or routine that contributes to your success?

Every year, I go home for Carnival. I’ve missed a few here and there, but it’s a staple in my life and a deep-rooted cultural tradition that keeps me grounded. Carnival gives me the chance to pause, gain perspective, and reset so I can move forward and achieve.  One of my favorite events is Jouvert, where we wake up at 4 a.m. and dance in the streets for hours until we’re tired and worn out. It’s like my annual therapy. It’s a moment where I don’t have to worry about how I sound or what I look like. Just like its origin, Jouvert is a form of freedom — no one cares about your title or what you do, we’re all there to have a good time.

How do you balance work and personal life?

I don’t believe balance is static; it’s a portfolio that shifts. Sometimes work is up, sometimes family is up. What matters is being fully present in whichever role I’m in. When I’m with my family, I’m fully present with them. I also deeply ask others to respect the space I’m in and understand that sometimes I will give more and sometimes I will give less in both work and life. That grace goes both ways: I give it to others, and I hope for it in return.

What are you currently working on or excited about?

I’m excited about the opportunity to continue growing Microsoft’s cloud and AI platform business, but more importantly, about the impact we can have on innovation. Helping customers modernize their enterprise environments and drive digital transformation has the power to leap societies to new heights. I just returned from South Africa and Kenya, and as we speak I’m boarding a plane to Peru, then on to Chile and Brazil. I love working in new and developing markets and helping customers unlock the best of technology to drive change in monumental ways. That’s what excites me most about my role: the impact my team and I can have as we help customers migrate to the cloud and realize the full promise of innovation. What makes it even more exciting is that we recently launched the Cloud Accelerate Factory, a delivery offering designed to make this transition easier and faster. I couldn’t be more thrilled to bring the very best of Microsoft to our customers so they, in turn, can achieve their best.

Where do you hope to be in five years?

In five years, I hope to still be leading at the intersection of people and technology, shaping how cloud and AI are democratized and opening doors for others. I want to stay at the forefront of helping organizations harness this technology in ways that truly transform lives. Just as important, I want to keep creating platforms for the next generation. I have six nieces and nephews and dozens of mentees, and I want them to see that their starting point doesn’t limit their finish line. My goal is to show them that with belief, grit, and opportunity, their platform can be their launchpad.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Build from your circumstances and finesse it into your own greatness. Too often we focus on what we don’t have, but greatness comes from working with what’s right in front of you and shaping it into something extraordinary.

What message do you hope to pass on to the next generation of women?

Don’t try to fit in. What makes you feel different today will one day be your greatest strength. Everyone has their own vibe, so let yours be your differentiator and lead with it unapologetically.

What does winning mean to you?

Winning and success, to me, are when your impact lives beyond you. It’s not about being the only one at the top; it’s about bringing others along for the ride. The work we all do has the opportunity for high impact and high reward, so I like to set a high bar and high expectations. Our titles in life are rented; they aren’t always going to be here or belong to us. The true goal should be growth and development. Winning is when your impact is remembered beyond yourself.