Meet Luis Montero
An ongoing series from The Alumni Society spotlighting its impressive members
Alma mater:
Columbia University
Where are you from?
I was born in Lima, Peru. At the age of eight we moved to Toronto, Canada, only to move back to Lima to finish high school. I returned to Canada after high school to attend McGill University. I’m immensely proud of both my Peruvian heritage and my Canadian upbringing.
Where are you from?
My family and I currently live in Larchmont, New York, a small town outside of New York City. We moved here in September 2021, after spending over a decade in Seattle, Washington.
What are you up to today?
I currently work as a director of global public affairs for Microsoft. In this role I lead a portfolio focused on geopolitics and Microsoft’s global initiatives to strengthen democratic norms and institutions, including tackling mis/disinformation, preserving journalism and protecting democratic elections. My team’s remit also includes managing Microsoft’s public affairs response on Microsoft’s work in China and Africa, human rights, humanitarian response, and partnerships with the UN and International Organizations.
What is a career accomplishment you’re proud of?
In the Puget Sound region, home to Microsoft’s global headquarters, the number of available jobs has outpaced the availability of affordable housing. This means that essential workers such as police offers, nurses, and teachers can no longer afford to live where they work. In 2019 while working with Microsoft in Seattle I was fortunate to be part of a small team that helped design and launch what today is a $750 million package of investments to help accelerate the construction of low-income housing in the greater Seattle area.
What benefits or values do you seek in networking?
I’m excited to listen and learn about the rich experiences and career trajectories of The Alumni Society network’s members, and look forward to sharing the skills, connections, and ideas I’ve acquired in my twenty years working in public policy and communications.
What are you passionate about or what drives you?
In 2010 while living in London I shared a ham and cheese sandwich with Fernando Henrique Cardoso, the former president of Brazil.
Connect with Luis Montero.
