Kate Maxwell
Company and Title: Microsoft | General Manager, Worldwide Education
Board Committees: Communication and Marketing Committee
What inspires you about the TPY mission?
I volunteer for Techpoint Foundation for Youth because I believe in empowering and inspiring young people through STEM education opportunities. As a STEM professional, I know firsthand how transformative STEM education can be. I'm passionate about providing those same opportunities to others and inspiring the next generation to consider STEM career pathways.
A little bit about me: Kate Maxwell is General Manager of the Worldwide Education industry at Microsoft, where she delivers on Microsoft’s mission to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more.
Maxwell is an accomplished engineering, technology, and sales leader with 20+ years of experience supporting Public Sector customers around the world. She currently manages a $4B+ global Education portfolio, with specialization in digital transformation and delivering impact through cloud, SaaS, and mission products. Additionally, Maxwell is a sought-after speaker, storyteller, and innovator. She holds two patents in the unmanned air domain, and she inspires audiences on keynote stages around the world.
Prior to leading the Education industry at Microsoft, Maxwell served as Chief Technology Officer for the Microsoft Worldwide Defense & Intelligence industry (2020-2023). Before that, she held various Defense Industrial Base leadership positions at Raytheon (RTX), including Technical Director of the Navigation & Modernization Solutions product line ($2.4B), Chief Engineer of the Product Support business ($700M), and Director of the Raytheon Innovation Center.
Maxwell is a passionate advocate for STEM education and diversity in tech. She serves on the Board of Directors for TechPoint Foundation for Youth, an Indiana-based non-profit connecting underprivileged students with opportunities in STEM. She also facilitates the annual Maxwell Scholarship for Women in Computing & Engineering in the state of Indiana.
Maxwell is a recipient of the prestigious Microsoft Platinum Club Pinnacle Award, Microsoft’s top award recognizing exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact. She was named the Indiana Tech Trailblazer of the Year by TechPoint in 2024, and #1 of the Top 100 Women in Tech by Technology Magazine in 2023. She was honored as the Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ) Tech Executive of the Year in 2022, was a Forty Under 40 recipient in 2021, and a Woman of Influence in 2019. Kate is active in the Society of Women Engineers and is a two-time SWE award winner.
Maxwell holds a Master’s Degree in Systems Engineering from George Mason University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. She is an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys skiing, paddle boarding, traveling, and finding adventure wherever life takes her.