Albanian technology expert Drena Kusari has reached another major milestone in her international career, being appointed to one of the highest executive positions at Microsoft.

In a post shared on LinkedIn, she announced that she has officially started her new role as Corporate Vice President and General Manager.

“I’m excited to share that I’m starting a new position as Corporate Vice President and General Manager at Microsoft,” Kusari wrote.

This role is considered among the top leadership levels within the company, placing her among senior executives at one of the world’s largest and most influential technology corporations.

Her appointment marks another success story for Albanians in the diaspora, especially highlighting the growing impact of Albanian women in the global tech industry.

Born and raised in Gjakovë, Kusari moved to the United States in 1999 following the Kosovo war. She completed her final year of high school there and began her professional journey working as an interpreter and field worker for Save the Children.

She later graduated from Occidental College with degrees in Economics and Diplomacy, and went on to earn her MBA from Harvard Business School, one of the world’s most prestigious business schools.

Her career spans several major global companies. She worked at Goldman Sachs as a financial analyst, at McKinsey & Company as a strategy consultant for Fortune 500 companies, and at Lyft where she served as General Manager for the Southwest and Hawaii region—becoming the first woman to lead that region.

She also held a leadership role at Bumble, focusing on strategy and business development.

Her appointment at Microsoft represents a significant moment for Albanian representation at the highest levels of the global technology and innovation industry.