Post by Ekin Öcal

My last day at Microsoft was on November 30th, and as I look back on these 4+ years, I’m filled with so much gratitude for the people and the experiences that shaped this journey. It’s not easy to summarize what this time meant to me, but I wanted to share a few words for the incredible people who made these years unforgettable. I want to start by thanking my managers, Erzsebet, Turgay, Kemal, Nilay, Aysun, Alp. Your trust, guidance, and encouragement made a huge difference in my growth. I truly appreciate everything I learned from you. To my teammates especially Serdar, Metin, Yigit, Mehmet, Mehmet, Serdar, Hakan, Duran. Thank you for being the reason this experience was so meaningful. We shared so many intense moments, fast escalations, last-minute calls, long troubleshooting hours… but also so many laughs, small celebrations, and those little “we’ve got this” moments that made everything lighter. Working with you never felt like “just work.” It felt like being part of a group that genuinely cares, helps without hesitation, and stands together no matter how complex the day looks. I’ll really miss that energy, your kindness, and the way we always found a way to support each other even on the toughest days. I also want to thank the entire SfMC team. From my very first day, you were incredibly supportive, helpful, and genuinely kind. I never felt alone not once. No matter how complex the situation was, someone was always there to guide me, share knowledge, or simply say, “we’ve got this together.” This team has a special spirit, and I’m grateful for every moment of encouragement and every bit of help you offered so naturally. As I close this chapter, I keep thinking about how much these 4+ years have given me. I learned more than I ever expected, grew in ways that shaped my confidence and how I work, and none of it would have been possible without the people around me. And beyond the names I’ve mentioned, there are so many others like Rob, Noyan, Fauzia, Zoheb, Ahmed, Kent, Claudio, Marco, Michele and even more whose names can’t fit into one post but whose impact was just as meaningful. Your support, kindness, encouragement, and even the small shared moments on tough days made this journey unforgettable. That’s what makes leaving emotional not the ending, but the people and the memories that made these years so special. I’m taking all of it with me: everything I learned, everything I became, and every warm moment you contributed to along the way. Thank you, truly, for being such an important part of these years. I’m excited for what comes next, but a piece of my heart will always stay with this team. 💙 💛 ❤️ 💚 Please feel free to stay in touch anytime.