A representative from Marquette University made an impactful visit to University of Detroit Jesuit High School during Chris Morrissey’s junior year, shortly after Marquette’s men’s basketball team claimed the national championship in 1977. With several of his friends having siblings enrolled at the university, the allure of Marquette was undeniable. “We did a road trip up to Milwaukee and just kind of checked it out,” Morrissey recalls. “Then, it was in the game plan that I was going to go to Marquette.” This pivotal decision set the stage for a diverse career that has taken him from the automotive sector to chemicals, and now to his current position as the senior director of communications for Windows and devices at Microsoft. Throughout his journey, Morrissey has consistently applied the principles of servant leadership he first encountered as a business student at Marquette.
Memories of Marquette
Reflecting on his time at Marquette, Morrissey fondly remembers Dean Thomas Bausch of the business school discussing potential career paths. He also recalls his unique job at the downtown Hilton, where he worked the midnight shift in the parking lot, allowing him to complete his homework during work hours. “Every morning, they let me take a copy of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal home. Reading those papers opened my mind up a lot,” he shares.
A Lifelong Interest in Technology
Morrissey’s enduring passion for technology began during his first job at Chrysler, now known as Stellantis. “They brought in a new PC, and all the older workers were hesitant, but I was eager to dive in,” he explains. His willingness to embrace new technology, even when it intimidated others, played a significant role in his professional advancement. “The first thing you have to do is embrace new challenges and new ways of doing things. When you use it enough to understand it, then you adjust your playbook,” he advises.
Daily Responsibilities at Microsoft
In his role at Microsoft, Morrissey focuses on servicing Windows devices. His team plays a crucial part in the initial rollout of features and major updates. “We have a Windows Insider program where people can opt in to receive new features right away, and my team handles all the communications for that,” he explains. This includes producing instructional videos and addressing any issues that arise. Managing a distributed team that communicates in 36 different languages, Morrissey emphasizes the global impact of their work, stating, “We work 24/7, and people in almost every country rely on our technology to support utilities, governments, hospitals, front-line workers, students, and gamers, just to name a few. We really feel like we’re part of the fabric of society.”
Handling Crisis Situations
Recently, Morrissey’s team faced a significant challenge when Crowdstrike, a cybersecurity firm, experienced a product issue affecting numerous Windows devices. “When that happened, we immediately pivoted to figuring out how to help our customers,” he recounts. His team was among the first to communicate about the situation, adopting a collaborative approach. “Our attitude was: let’s not point fingers. Let’s just get folks back up and running,” he states. To ensure customer support, thousands of employees were reassigned to assist with inquiries. “It was global news; it was pretty much covered everywhere,” he adds.
Lessons from Marquette in Action
When reflecting on how his Marquette education informs his crisis management, Morrissey emphasizes the importance of prioritizing others. “It’s about putting others first, not yourself. We could have easily said, ‘that’s not our problem,’ but instead, we leaned into helping the customers and the ecosystem,” he explains. This mindset allowed them to reach PCs at scale like no one else in the world.
Community Involvement in Seattle
Since relocating to Seattle, Morrissey has become actively involved in community service. “When you live in a big city, you see people from all different walks of life. You start to ask: how can I be engaged? How can I help?” he reflects. His journey began with volunteering at food banks, where he initially helped with logistics before becoming a board member, treasurer, and eventually board chair of North Helpline. This organization operates two food banks, runs homelessness prevention programs, and collaborates with the Seattle Indian Health Board to provide on-the-spot medical checkups.
Family Reflections
As a father of three and a recent grandfather, Morrissey sees reflections of himself in his children. “I see a lot of myself and definitely a lot of their mother in them too. That’s probably why they’re really intelligent!” he chuckles. He admires their inquisitiveness, love for travel, and open-mindedness. “If there’s one thing I’d like to think they inherited from me, it’s having a growth mindset. That’s the most important thing, and it doesn’t matter what age you are. You can have a growth mindset at six or 60 years old. It keeps you young,” he concludes.
