Microsoft Corporate Vice President, General Manager of Research and Development for Israel and Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft Security Michal Braverman-Blumenstyk spoke with Globes Editor-in-Chief Naama Sekoler at today’s Globes ESG conference, organized in collaboration with Israel Discount Bank, at the Herzog Center in Tel Aviv. “Microsoft has embraced diversity and inclusion, and companies that embrace this issue are more successful companies. Studies show that this is very important to our customers, and that it really makes companies successful. Even when companies have a wide range of opinions, they are more successful.”
Regarding the development and role of women in the company, she said. “I am against affirmative action for women, but I support addressing the exclusion of women from certain jobs, and we need to start addressing it at an early age. My father taught me to play chess at the age of three.”
Braverman Blumenstik also talked about investing in the Arab population, especially the establishment of the Microsoft Center in Nazareth, which led to a quadruple increase in the number of Arab employees in the company. It also referred to integration haredi population. “High tech is a very strong sector with authority and responsibility, and it is our duty to make sure that all sectors in the State of Israel participate in this industry, that all sectors benefit from it. We also have to make sure that we reduce the gaps.” When asked about Microsoft’s approach to sustainability, she said, “Microsoft’s vision is to empower every person and every company on the planet to achieve more. If the planet no longer exists, or it exists in a less good way, or some resources just aren’t here, then work on this will be Seeing is more difficult.”
To invest in climate technology
Sikuler asked about the relationship between Microsoft as a technology company and the issue of sustainability. The damage to Earth is also hurting Microsoft employees and, as a result, the company itself, Braverman-Blumenstyk said. She said that the company’s building in Herzliya is the first in Israel to rely entirely on green energy. She also said that Microsoft is working with environmentally friendly technologies – such as the ability to produce water from moisture in the air.
She added, “We take the water we water our community gardens from the moisture in the air. And the company is investing in a variety of these technologies. Another Microsoft commitment is to keep parts of the world clean. The goal we set is for 2025, and in 2023 we’re over it.” The target is 50%.” Braverman-Blumenstyk added: “We have created a fund with $1 billion in resources to invest in climate technologies. Israel has a lot of these technologies and we work with many startups. Working with partnerships is a very important business for Microsoft. We also have Microsoft for startups, Which helps startups and investors.”
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The power of cybersecurity to the power of sustainability
Referring to the fact that Israel has been a cybersecurity powerhouse for many years, Sekula asked whether Israel could become a sustainable power, and if so – why and how.
Braverman-Blumenstyk responded that she had been a partner for many years in Israel’s transformation and establishment as a cybersecurity power, and claimed that understanding the reasons for Israel’s transformation into a cybersecurity power would reflect why and how it could become a sustainable power.
She explained, “Cybersecurity is a very cool field, and we succeed in bringing the best people into cybersecurity, because it involves working against an opponent – the opponent is the attacker, and we always have to be one step ahead, and that’s very important, it’s a challenge and it brings in the good people. Sustainability is a big challenge.” In a similar way. There is an important task of defeating the climate degradation of the Earth, and thus some people have moved from cybersecurity to sustainability.”
Published by Globes, Israel business news – en.globes.co.il – on July 5, 2023.
© Copyright Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd., 2023.
