Rashida Hodge, VP, Azure Data and AI / Customer Success for Microsoft is a technologist and executive leader at the forefront of AI and emerging technologies. Dubbed the “Superhero of IBM Watson AI,” Rashida led the commercialization and global launch of IBM Watson and rose to be the highest-ranking African American woman executive.

Originally from St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, her Caribbean upbringing gave her respect for strong communities, mentorship and the power of diversity. 

Rashida earned a BS and MS in Industrial Engineering at North Carolina State University and an MBA from Duke University Fuqua School of Business. 

She was named to Fortune Magazine’s Most Powerful “NextGen” Women in 2018 and 2019 and named to Fortune 40 Under 40 in technology in 2020.

Rashida sits on the Boards of Misty Robotics; Girls Inc.; Duke University Fuqua School of Business Minority Advisory Board; and North Carolina University College of Engineering Foundation.

Learn more about Rashida here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashidahodge/

Shout-out: Today's Diversity Leader Shout-out goes to the co-founders of Black Women on Boards (BWOB) - Merline Saintil and Robin L. Washington

Music:

Vente by Mamá Patxanga is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License

Amor Y Felicidad by SONGO 21 is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License