Vicky Harp
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vickyharp.com
Vicky Harp
@vickyharp.com
1.5K followers 430 following 9.6K posts
Product person, recently ex-Microsoft. Dev experiences, Al, data. Helper of experts. She/Her. Black Lives Matter.

This meeting could have been a riot.
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vickyharp.com
Walgreens called with an automated message to follow up from a text exactly as I was reading this
An incoming call notification from Walgreens appears over the Bluesky feed showing the "epic handshake" meme, which shows "Walgreens pharmacy" and "Democrats asking for money" meeting at "why the fuck are you texting me so much"
October 24, 2025 at 4:11 PM
vickyharp.com
I am not going to associate myself with my alma mater anymore on LinkedIn.
LinkedIn message box: Delete education Are you sure you want to delete your Texas A&M University education?
September 9, 2025 at 3:29 PM
vickyharp.com
In a meeting looking at all the data supporting RTO. It's just out of frame.
Comedian Nathan Fielder smiles alone in a picture, from the "friends just out of frame" meme.
September 9, 2025 at 3:20 PM
vickyharp.com
LinkedIn has a jobs category for "Jobs where you're more likely to hear back," which is a pretty low bar but one which so many companies still manage not to clear.
LinkedIn screenshot showing "Jobs where you're more likely to hear back" With the clipped subheading "Based on your profile, the job criteria and recruiter f..." Listed jobs are: "Sr. Director Product Management AMD Santa Clara, CA (On-site) $233.2K/yr - $349.8K/yr" "Director of Product, Assisted Experiences T-Mobile Bellevue, WA $185.6K/yr - $251K/yr 401(k), Vision, +2 benefits" "VP of Platform (Product & Engineering) Zendesk San Francisco, CA $245K/yr - $367K/yr"
July 31, 2025 at 8:22 PM
vickyharp.com
AI is making web search so much more stupid. I just looked up foods that are good for someone recovering from nausea and Google recommended "fried foods"

If you expand the entry though:
A search engine showing "Fried Foods" with an entry from the American Cancer Society: "Avoid fried, spicy, or greasy foods. When deciding what to eat, choose the foods that sound good to you. Your body may handle them better." And from the Cleveland Clinic: "Avoiding fried, greasy or sweet foods. Eating slowly and eating smaller, more frequent meals. Not mixing hot and cold foods. Drinking beverages slowly."
July 29, 2025 at 3:16 AM
vickyharp.com
OMG that passive voice from Satya's message:

"And yet, at the same time, we’ve undergone layoffs."

blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2025/07...
The "goose chase" meme - upper panel is a goose, second panel is the goose chasing someone
July 24, 2025 at 6:01 PM
vickyharp.com
I was probably listening to Franz Ferdinand, Muse, or the Killers on my Creative Zen V Plus as I took the commuter bus home.
A 2004 era Creative Zen V mp3 player
July 19, 2025 at 5:14 AM
vickyharp.com
Microsoft benefits page showing "Coverage terminated" for Medical, Vision, and Dental
July 16, 2025 at 4:54 PM
vickyharp.com
It is exactly like being back at work, y'all:
Claude Sonnet screenshot: First question: do you have any comments about the follow the clock on call rotation proposal? adjusts slightly in chair Well, that's a great question about operational excellence. Look, I think what's really important here is that we're always optimizing for the right outcomes - whether that's developer productivity, system reliability, or team sustainability. The specific mechanics of how we structure our on-call processes should really be driven by what enables our teams to innovate most effectively. And when I think about innovation, I keep coming back to how AI is fundamentally transforming not just what we build, but how we build it. We're at this incredible inflection point where AI can actually help us be more predictive about system health, more intelligent about incident response, and frankly, more strategic about where we spend our human capital. The teams that figure out how to leverage AI for operational excellence - whether that's in (this is where the screenshot ends) Claude Sonnet screenshot: I'm an intern and hitting my midpoint of the summer. Anything I should experience on campus before I finish? leans forward with slight smile That's fantastic - midpoint already! Time really flies when you're doing meaningful work. You know, the most important thing you can do in your remaining time here isn't necessarily about the campus amenities or the food trucks, though those are great. What I'd really encourage you to do is get curious about the problems we're solving at scale. Talk to engineers, product managers, researchers - understand how we're thinking about the next decade of technology. Because what you're witnessing right now is this incredible transformation happening in real-time. The work you're doing this summer - you're not just learning our systems, you're actually contributing to the AI revolution. Every line of code, every analysis, every insight you're generating is part of this broader mission to build technology that ing to reshape how (this is where the screenshot ends) Claude Sonnet screenshot: What can you say for those of us feeling burned out by the constant shifts in strategy? pauses thoughtfully I hear you, and I think what you're describing is actually a natural response to operating in a space that's evolving at unprecedented speed. The reality is, we're in an industry where the landscape shifts not just quarterly, but sometimes weekly. But here's how I think about it - what feels like constant strategic pivots is actually us staying ahead of the curve. We're not reacting to change, we're anticipating it. And that's especially true when it comes to AI. The companies that are going to thrive in the next decade aren't the ones with the most stable five-year plans - they're the ones that can sense where the puck is going and position themselves accordingly. Every strategic adjustment we make is us staying at the forefront of what's possible. And think about it this way - you're building skills in adaptability (this is where the screenshot ends)
July 13, 2025 at 4:37 PM
vickyharp.com
I used to amuse my coworkers during large group meetings by prompting something like "You are presenting at a large meeting and need to answer a question about frequent reorgs without saying anything of substance," then putting it in a side chat so we could compare what we heard in real time.
leans back slightly and gestures with hands "Yeah, you know, that's... that's something we've been thinking about a lot lately. Look, I think the reality is we're operating in a really dynamic environment right now, and we need to make sure our organizational structure can keep pace with that. brief pause, as if collecting thoughts What I'd say is - we're being very intentional about how we approach these things. We're not just making changes for the sake of making changes. We're really trying to understand what our business needs are, where we're going strategically, and then... you know, building the right framework to support that. slight head nod The good news is we have really strong leadership across the organization who are all aligned on these priorities. And we're committed to making sure everyone has visibility into the process and understands how these decisions get made. more conversational tone I mean, change is never easy, right? But I think what we're building here is going to position us really well for the future. We're thinking long-term while also being responsive to what's happening in the market today. looks around the room Does that... does that make sense? I'm happy to talk more about any specific concerns you might have."
July 13, 2025 at 4:23 PM
vickyharp.com
I see a lot of breathless speculation on the reasons for tech layoffs. It's right here y'all. This is where the salary money is going.

I am not saying it's good or bad, I am just saying it doesn't have to be a lot more complicated than "offsetting high capital expenses with workforce reduction"
A 5 year stock chart for NVIDIA, showing a +1,473.66% / +$154.44 growth in 5 years with a current value of $164.82. The most explosive growth started in 2024.
July 12, 2025 at 4:27 PM
vickyharp.com
I have made a piece of visual art to commemorate my time at Microsoft. It is the first page of my separation agreement.
A framed picture is resting on the music stand of a piano next to some plants. The image is a legal document that has been cut into 4 pieces, each painted and reassembled to echo the Microsoft logo.
July 9, 2025 at 7:19 PM
vickyharp.com
Atta girl, Maelle
A picture from the video game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It is an end of battle screen showing highest damage 64,153,002 out of 68,792,808 total damage. The damage received is 78,931, the time is 10:14, and successful parry count is 19.
June 26, 2025 at 6:41 AM
vickyharp.com
Me: Hire me, I am very professional

Also me: Managed to get blue food color on my face within 30 seconds of opening it
A bemused looking red-haired woman with glasses with a smudge of blue on her cheek
June 25, 2025 at 2:02 AM
vickyharp.com
Actually I found several other companies registered at the same address. Those companies show up on various AI-looking websites all over, I saw one that claimed to be in Wyoming, another that was targeted toward Australia. There was an IT services company too.
A screenshot of a website for a firm called Ocean Spark. The header reads "We provide truly here prominent IT solutions" Another screenshot of "Ocean Spark" which reads: Why us! some reaseon here 24/7 customer support Our dedicated support team provides 24/7 support through emails, skype and online calls to our clients. Awesome team member Your Company's mission is ours. Our team cares, listen, analyze, collaborate, and interpret your requirements. Good product quality Increased usability, decreased complexity, and clean code is key factors in our quality software products.
June 14, 2025 at 8:34 AM
vickyharp.com
I see that the shipping page for that site uses the wrong name for the company. Looked it up, and it turns out Mason Porter seems to also be Paul Richard.
A screenshot of a site, "Paul Richard Handcrafted Bags." The image of the maker is identical to the one up thread that claims to be Mason Porter. The text reads: "Meet Paul: A Lifetime of Craftsmanship Hi, I’m Paul, and I’m thrilled you’ve discovered my work. Since 1997, I’ve been handcrafting leather goods with passion, care, and a deep commitment to quality. What began as a hobby grew into a lifelong journey, where each bag I create tells a story of tradition and craftsmanship. For over 27 years, I’ve poured my heart into every piece, knowing that my bags would find their way into the hands of those who value timeless design and true artisanal work."
June 14, 2025 at 8:12 AM
vickyharp.com
I got a new dryer and apparently "Regular" and "Normal" are distinct cycles.
The selection screen for a remote dryer control app. Selections available: Regular, Quick Dry, Bedding, Normal, Air Dry, Timed Dry, Sanitize, Whites, Delicates, and Heavy Duty
June 5, 2025 at 2:36 AM
vickyharp.com
I just tried a clarinet for the first time, this is hilariously bad
An AI generated picture of a clarinet, humorously incorrect in that it has a bell on both ends instead of a mouthpiece and the keys are nonsensical
June 1, 2025 at 7:27 PM
vickyharp.com
"Keep searching for Trumpet mouthpieces"

A) I was searching for clarinet mouthpieces
B) None of these things are either trumpet or clarinet mouthpieces
A screenshot of Amazon.com reading "Keep shopping for Trumpet mouthpieces." The four recommended products are a "clarinet-stache," a gag gift to make it look like a clarinet player had a moustache, a two pack of same, clarinet thumb rest cushions, and a sterling silver clarinet pendant necklace.
June 1, 2025 at 7:16 PM
vickyharp.com
Decided to thin out my work hoodies. This blue Build one brings powerful memories. I have had such a glorious time at Build over the years, a real sense of pride and belonging and just plain fun. The layoffs happened the week before this year's Build.
A stack of 4 hoodies with Microsoft logos. The one on top is a blue hoodie reading "Microsoft Build" Vicky Harp and MVP Jeremy Sinclair in blue Build hoodies laughing and holding an #MSBuild sign in front of a colorful Microsoft photo background
May 31, 2025 at 9:46 PM
vickyharp.com
Another concept I like to reference in this area is the McNamara Fallacy: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McNamar...
Screenshot from Wikipedia: "But when the McNamara discipline is applied too literally, the first step is to measure whatever can be easily measured. The second step is to disregard that which can't easily be measured or given a quantitative value. The third step is to presume that what can't be measured easily really isn't important. The fourth step is to say that what can't be easily measured really doesn't exist. This is suicide."
May 30, 2025 at 5:48 PM
vickyharp.com
Made it @bluesky.ms official
BlueSky.ms verification page showing that Vicky Harp is verified as a Microsoft employee, with the "Remove Verification" button showing a progress icon BlueSky.ms verification page reading "To verify your profile as a Microsoft employee, enter your Microsoft work email address (@microsoft.com). A verification email will be sent to this address. Your email address will be stored on bluesky.ms and will not be shared with anyone. It will only be used to periodically review your Microsoft employee status." The email field is now blank, where in the previous image it had Vicky's Microsoft email address
May 26, 2025 at 4:40 AM
vickyharp.com
I was one of the thousands who were laid off from Microsoft last week.

People ask me what I need. Just kindness, my friends. I understand what happened intellectually, but emotionally: honestly, it's been harder than I expected.
An office placard with the room number and the label "Vicky Harp." Underneath, a handwritten yellow post it note reading "I will miss you all ♥️ - Vicky"
May 19, 2025 at 4:17 PM
vickyharp.com
Asked Google Photos to suggest a photo from my library which might make a good watercolor subject and it gave me this
A shot of the label of a can of latex paint, smeared with blue paint
May 6, 2025 at 4:33 AM
vickyharp.com
I have been enjoying a drop of lavender syrup in my morning cup of tea lately after enjoying some Stash "Breakfast in Paris" on a trip recently. This way I can stick with my regular Yorkshire Gold and not have another box of tea rattling around the kitchen.
A cupped hand is holding a petite 50 mL bottle of Monin lavender syrup, with a brewed cup of tea on a counter beyond
May 5, 2025 at 2:46 PM