Former Microsoft director opens up about life after voluntary exit in July: ‘Six months of pure vibes

Former Microsoft director Shawn Mrzena took a severance package after 25 years at the firm and has since pursued construction, plumbing and fly-fishing.

Microsoft is extending voluntary severance buyouts to nearly 60,000 staff members, as per CNBC. The offer includes severance compensation, ongoing equity vesting provisions, and sustained health insurance coverage as components of the departure agreement. This announcement comes months after the software giant's April move when it offered first-ever voluntary buyouts to some US employees.

Shawn Mrzena spent 25 years at Microsoft in sales, strategy, security and compliance roles. (Shawn Mrzena)

Microsoft director Shawn Mrzena took voluntary exit in July

Approximately 7% of US employees qualified for the one-time retirement initiative. It was made accessible to personnel at the senior director level and below who satisfied the eligibility criterion of having their combined years of service and age 70 or higher. In July, Shawn Mrzena, the former Microsoft director from Redmond, Washington, accepted a voluntary severance package in July and has since pursued diverse opportunities outside the technology sector.

While announcing his retirement, Mrzena expressed gratitude to both his customers and team members, saying, "It’s been an absolute joy to learn from you, build with you, solve problems together."

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He also shared what's ahead after his departure, describing it as "six months of pure vibes". His plans included quality time with family, personal building endeavors, enjoying rivers and oceans, and relaxing with his pair of French bulldogs.

Ex-Microsoft director trades corporate strategy for construction and fly fishing

After dedicating 25 years to building his career at Microsoft, Mrzena made a bold shift—swapping high-level corporate strategy sessions for the hands-on world of construction sites, plumbing projects, and outdoor exploration. His days now revolve around raising structural beams, creating innovative outdoor gear designs, and leading fly fishing adventures—a lifestyle that's worlds apart from his previous routine.

In a LinkedIn post, Mrzena opened up about how leaving the corporate world behind has allowed him to reconnect with tangible, physical work and experience greater mindfulness in his daily life.

Mrzena celebrated 90 days away from the corporate environment by posting pictures of his new adventures on LinkedIn. He talked about stepping into positions like a construction worker hoisting beams, a product designer developing outdoor equipment, and a fabrication technician handling paint, plastic, and metal.

His recent endeavors have also featured roles as a fly fishing guide in mountain streams and a plumber repairing connections under a trailer.

“These photos tell the story better than I can — a season of building things, fixing things, catching things, and rediscovering what it feels like to work with my hands and be fully present. Corporate life taught me a lot. These last 90 days taught me even more,” he said in a LinkedIn post.

Shawn Mrzena: A look at his Microsoft journey

During his extensive tenure at Microsoft, Mrzena assumed multiple positions across various business functions. His professional journey commenced in the role of Enterprise Account Executive, progressing through regional sales management and enterprise cloud solutions. He subsequently advanced to Global Sales Leader and Strategy Manager, overseeing Microsoft 365 Data Privacy and Compliance initiatives. His career trajectory continued with appointments as Director of Global Security and Compliance Sales Programs and Business Strategy, followed by his role as Sales Program Leader and Director for AI Business Solutions.