How Microsoft is making its products more inclusive and accessible

The deadline for Ad Age’s annual 40 Under 40 feature is just a few weeks away. Ahead of its publication on Sept. 19, we are asking past honorees to share career advice, including how they got to where they are today. Don’t forget to nominate your own rising stars for this year’s list ahead of the July 11 deadline at AdAge.com/40u40. When first interviewed by Ad Age in 2019, Christina Mallon had been the global head of inclusive design and accessibility at the renowned advertising agency Wunderman Thompson for two years. It was a role she created. There, Mallon, who is paralyzed in both arms, helped clients such as Tommy Hilfiger develop more inclusive and adaptive products for consumers with disabilities. She was also honored as Ad Age's 2020 Creativity Awards Diversity Champion of the Year. Enter Ad Age’s 40 Under 40 Submit your entry by July 11 for this year's list Click here Earlier this year, Mallon, who also owns her own consulting company and is a disability activist, joined Microsoft to become the brand's director of inclusive design, responsible for making its customer experience more inclusive. The tech giant’s creative marketing team has explored campaigns involving the metaverse and online gaming with one of its popular brands, Minecraft, since Mallon joined the team. We caught up with her to hear about her new role and what's ahead. Tell us about the transition from your previous role at Wunderman Thompson to your new job at Microsoft. The biggest shift is focusing on one vertical. I’m used to juggling projects from multiple verticals. What are you tasked with at Microsoft? I am responsible for building Microsoft’s inclusive design strategy and executing on it. Have you encountered any surprises? The large amount of excitement around the topic of inclusive design from all teams at Microsoft. Can you talk about one of your favorite projects or campaigns that you worked on this past year? I had a blast working on the Microsoft Surface Adaptive Kit with the Microsoft Inclusive Design Lab and my nonprofit, Open Style Lab. This kit helps myself and other disabled people use their computers. What advice would you give a younger version of yourself just starting out in the industry? If you think a role is needed to fix a problem in the industry, create the role! It worked for me! Enter Ad Age’s 40 Under 40 Submit your entry by July 11 for this year's list Click here

How Microsoft is making its products more inclusive and accessible

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