Investigation PANELS
Friday, May 9, 2008, 10:30am

Leila TopliC
Consumer Strategy Manager, Microsoft Consumer Strategy Team Microsoft Corp.

As consumer strategy manager on the Microsoft consumer strategy team at Microsoft Corp., Leila Toplic is responsible for Microsoft’s consumer strategy and communications to consumers and industry. She is currently focused on spearheading consumer and industry research and development of the strategy and road map for Microsoft’s consumer value proposition. Her responsibilities also include cross-functional team leadership, and strategic planning and implementation for large industry events such as Sneak Preview and the Consumer Electronics Show. In addition, Toplic is responsible for driving the methodology for and measurement of consumer satisfaction as well as developing Microsoft’s engagement with NGOs worldwide.

Before this, Toplic served as the international marketing manager on the Windows XP team and was responsible for international consumer marketing campaigns. She also managed R&D funds for Microsoft’s largest division and tracked the performance of over 70 different programs that drive innovation and growth for the Windows division. Before taking this role, Toplic served as manager of the Microsoft® Windows® Digital Home, where she led initiatives to focus industry attention on the Digital Home and position Microsoft as a key player in that space.

Toplic came to Microsoft from Adobe Systems Inc., where her work included defining competitive studies, strategy for gathering customer feedback and requirements, and field studies to help develop new product features and usability improvements.

Toplic also served as assistant to the ambassador from Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations; represented Massachusetts on the board of directors of the U.S. committee for UNIFEM; and founded and led the Wellesley College Chapter of the UN Development Fund for Women and the Wellesley College Chapter of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. She graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a bachelor’s degree in peace and justice studies. At Wellesley she participated in a cross-registration program with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, working in the MIT Media Lab.

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