About Jennifer

In high tech or any role, Jennifer Byrne is an advocate for applying original thinking and an innovator’s mindset to create opportunities for success in work and life. Advances in technology can create as much risk as opportunity. Jennifer uses wisdom gained from twenty years in the tech industry to advise startups and mentor young women and leaders on topics related to making the most of today’s fast-changing, tech-infused world.

In her previous role as Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft US, Jennifer worked with companies and organizations across all industries and market segments to re-frame their business opportunities in digital terms. Jennifer infused innovation practices into Microsoft’s technical field teams which led to high-value and well-publicized digital transformation strategies with top global companies.

Jennifer led the fifteen Microsoft Technology Centers across the US, hosting thousands of customers and community events each year. In previous roles at Microsoft, Jennifer was responsible for market expansion initiatives leveraging business model and technology innovation for government, healthcare, and education providers around the globe. She joined Microsoft as the Chief Security Officer for the Worldwide Public Sector Division in 2014.

Prior to Microsoft, Jennifer was a leader in Cybersecurity, having held technical, sales and executive positions at companies such as Intel, McAfee and Symantec. She began her career in technology as an Information Security Analyst and Engineer serving US Government clients.

Her first career, which remains her passion today, was in the non-profit world working with under-served populations.

"We are hard-wired to overcome adversity with innovation"

In her previous role as Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft US, Jennifer worked with companies and organizations across all industries and market segments to re-frame their business opportunities in digital terms. Jennifer infused innovation practices into Microsoft’s technical field teams which led to high-value and well-publicized digital transformation strategies with top global companies.

Jennifer led the fifteen Microsoft Technology Centers across the US, hosting thousands of customers and community events each year. In previous roles at Microsoft, Jennifer was responsible for market expansion initiatives leveraging business model and technology innovation for government, healthcare, and education providers around the globe. She joined Microsoft as the Chief Security Officer for the Worldwide Public Sector Division in 2014.

Prior to Microsoft, Jennifer was a leader in Cybersecurity, having held technical, sales and executive positions at companies such as Intel, McAfee and Symantec. She began her career in technology as an Information Security Analyst and Engineer serving US Government clients.

Her first career, which remains her passion today, was in the non-profit world working with under-served populations.

“We are hard-wired to overcome adversity with innovation.”

What People Are Saying

“Successfully navigating a career in tech requires a thoughtful approach to building depth of expertise and breadth of competencies. For me, this has meant being purposeful in considering opportunities and roles to cultivate this skill set. Jennifer’s mentorship has always been pivotal in guiding me through these important decision points. She has helped me understand and articulate the spectrum of benefits, trade-offs, and risks involved in evaluating my own career’s possibilities. Not only have I found clarity through her guidance, but I’ve also gained confidence in the actions I take. I continue to lean on Jennifer’s dynamic, generous coaching to steer me in the direction of realizing my long-term aspirations and goals for personal development.”

Lina Feng

Director, Chief Digital Office for Microsoft US

“During my time on her team at Microsoft, I was always in awe of Jennifer’s world-class technology expertise, capacity to inspire, and her talent to elevate her team’s performance. Despite not feeling ready, I accepted her invitation to lead the most “high-viz” GTM program in her portfolio. She advised and coached me to always see the big picture, recognize I had the answers, and that I simply needed to trust myself. Together, we executed that program to enormous success in opening markets for Microsoft’s multi-billion dollar cloud business. That is still the one of the most powerful lessons and highlights of my career and personal life. I have no doubt her advisory, mentorship, or coaching will always lead others to exceed their personal or company’s expectations for performance.”

Tom Reyes

Tech Exec | Cloud Leader | Data Guru | Digital Transformer

“Perhaps the hardest part about being a founder is transitioning seamlessly from a wonky product development meeting to a high-level investor call. This is especially true for first time founders like me who have unlimited ideas with limited resources.  Working with Jennifer as an Advisor has made a huge difference by providing frameworks connecting our long-term strategy with the daily tactics.  We now have a much better understanding of who our customer is, and therefore what type of company we need to be.  Most important is the insight I have gained into how my role as a leader supports the organization.  Every conversation with Jennifer is tremendously insightful, and I go to her first with my biggest challenges and opportunities.”

Tosh Cook

CEO, GigRonin, Inc

Jennifer is one of those rare individuals that combines technical, strategic and partnering/sales skills.She was a valuable asset as a member of my extended team. I continue to view her as a strategic advisor and solicit her feedback on critical business decisions even though she has moved on to a new role. She is someone I would recruit to any company I worked for.”

Candace Worley

Chief Product Officer,
Ping Identities

Jennifer played a key role in forging a powerful partnership between McAfee and Citrix. She focused on the customer’s needs, and helped both companies to see the imperative need for a joint solution. Great strategic insight and a pleasure to work with.

Simon Crosby

Chief Technology Officer,
SWIM.AI

I have had the pleasure of working with Jennifer on the launch of several new and significant products and initiatives at McAfee. She is an innovative thinker who can build and execute on visionary business strategies and develop ecosystem partnership models. I can think of no better person for an executive and strategic Business Development role than Jennifer.”

Dmitri Alperovich

Executive Chairman,
Silverado Policy Accelerator

Jennifer Byrne