Microsoft: Code; Without Barriers
“One of the things that I’m very excited also is to bring one of the initiatives which we’ve had called Code Without Barriers, and expanding to India and really helping 75,000 women developers by 2024.”
* Bronze, The Gong Awards 2024, PR: Brand Voice & Strategic Storytelling
* Gold, Marketing Excellence Awards 2023, Excellence in B2B Marketing
* Bronze, White Square Awards 2023, Digital
* Bronze, White Square Awards 2023, Sponsorship & Brand Partnership
* Silver, MARKies Awards 2023, Most Effective - B2B Marketing
* Gold, The Communicator Awards 2023, Online Advertising B2B
* Gold, w3 Awards 2022, Branded content - DEI
* Gold, PRCA APAC Awards 2022, Diversity & Inclusion
* Gold, Loyalty & Engagement Awards 2022, Best Engagement - Specific Audience
* Silver, Loyalty & Engagement Awards 2022, Best Use of Relationship Marketing - B2B
* Finalist, Marketing Excellence Awards 2022
Challenge:
Let’s face it. The tech industry still has a diversity issue, particularly in APAC, where there’s a lack of female representation in the workforce. This limits the potential for more inclusive innovations. And Microsoft turned to us for ideas to help overcome tech’s diversity barriers.
Solution:
Instead of proposing another ad or campaign with a limited shelf life, we thought long term and aimed to create something that could grow organically on its own. So we came up with a platform called Code; Without Barriers which champions and inspires female developers and creates real opportunities for them, and invited the tech and business community to come aboard and support this initiative.
Partnering with 69 organisations from the outset, we launched the programme across APAC, and have since expanded it with a Spotify podcast, YouTube series, a mentoring programme, hackathons, skills challenges, certification and employment opportunities. The platform continues to grow with hundreds of partners behind this movement; including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella himself.
https://www.business-standard.com/industry/news/satya-nadella-announces-expansion-of-code-without-barrier-programme-124020800753_1.html
Outcome:
* 1.3 million viewers for the launch event on Twitter
* Earned media attention of over 410 unique stories covered by top regional news outlets
* 40% increase in Microsoft’s Share of Voice (SOV)
* 11% increase in overall brand SOV
* 18 new Women in AI certification programs launched
* Over 2,800 women trained
* Over 7,600 developers across APAC participated in cloud skills challenges
My Role:
Concept development. Copywriting. Content strategy. Presentation. Scriptwriting. Case study writing.
Case study video
Launch video