2023 Alumni Professional Achievement Award Winner
As the corporate vice president of ImPaCT at Microsoft, Linda Averett drives innovation in privacy, compliance, education, and data and software delivery security services in the Windows + Devices group. She holds responsibility in leading product evolution to enable Windows and Microsoft integrated services to remain the system that customers, businesses, educational institutions, and governments prefer to implement and trust to build lives and livelihoods. Prior to her current position, Averett was responsible for the core user experience of Windows, the signature experiences, and the developer platform that enables delightful apps on Windows. Additionally, she led multiple projects in the development of Windows 7, 8, and 11.
Averett joined Microsoft 28 years ago and maintains experience in operating systems, user experience and interaction models, AI enhanced learning accelerators, digital imaging, media playback, and game development. In Windows 7, she was responsible for the Desktop User Experience, and in Windows 8, she was responsible for driving the application model and platform across the Windows group. In Windows Vista, she managed the development of the Windows Media Player and media technology stack. Before joining Windows, Averett was responsible for the initial versions of the Microsoft Picture It and Microsoft PhotoDraw products.
Averett possesses a degree in engineering physics from UT’s Tickle College of Engineering. Before joining Microsoft, she gained 10 years of experience developing real time operating systems, primarily at Hewlett Packard. Additionally, she and her husband, Ed, had a successful independent game development company, which produced the games for the Magnavox Odyssey gaming unit; she and Ed were on the leading edge of independent game developers for personal gaming.
Averett has two children, both of whom work at Microsoft as product managers, and three grandchildren. She is an avid fitness enthusiast, with a keen interest in cardio dance and hiking.
As the corporate vice president of ImPaCT at Microsoft, Linda Averett drives innovation in privacy, compliance, education, and data and software delivery security services in the Windows + Devices group. She holds responsibility in leading product evolution to enable Windows and Microsoft integrated services to remain the system that customers, businesses, educational institutions, and governments prefer to implement and trust to build lives and livelihoods. Prior to her current position, Averett was responsible for the core user experience of Windows, the signature experiences, and the developer platform that enables delightful apps on Windows. Additionally, she led multiple projects in the development of Windows 7, 8, and 11.
Averett joined Microsoft 28 years ago and maintains experience in operating systems, user experience and interaction models, AI enhanced learning accelerators, digital imaging, media playback, and game development. In Windows 7, she was responsible for the Desktop User Experience, and in Windows 8, she was responsible for driving the application model and platform across the Windows group. In Windows Vista, she managed the development of the Windows Media Player and media technology stack. Before joining Windows, Averett was responsible for the initial versions of the Microsoft Picture It and Microsoft PhotoDraw products.
Averett possesses a degree in engineering physics from UT’s Tickle College of Engineering. Before joining Microsoft, she gained 10 years of experience developing real time operating systems, primarily at Hewlett Packard. Additionally, she and her husband, Ed, had a successful independent game development company, which produced the games for the Magnavox Odyssey gaming unit; she and Ed were on the leading edge of independent game developers for personal gaming.
Averett has two children, both of whom work at Microsoft as product managers, and three grandchildren. She is an avid fitness enthusiast, with a keen interest in cardio dance and hiking.
