Brandon Middaugh isn’t interested in the spotlight. She’s also not afraid of doing the hard work. What she does care about is helping to make a tangible impact on the technology that can protect our planet. Brandon is the senior director of Microsoft’s $1 billion Climate Innovation Fund, which was founded in 2020 to help Microsoft and other businesses meet their ambitious 2030 sustainability goals of being carbon‑negative, water‑positive, zero‑waste, and ecosystem‑protective. New advancements in AI and other technologies are making that path exponentially more difficult. But she’s taking on the challenge by investing in startups developing new clean energy and climate technology. As such, Brandon is the force behind some of the past decade’s most effective climate investments.
“Brandon has helped reshape how corporations can accelerate climate solutions — pairing deep technical rigor with an unwavering passion for building a livable future,” says classmate Emily Steinberg, MBA ’13, MS ’14. If you look at Brandon’s impressive career, you’ll see that the work she does is more than just a job — it’s a passion. Her past positions have a common thread: energy, sustainability, and environmental impact. But what’s unique about Brandon’s experience, and why she’s the perfect person for her critical role, is the fact that she comes to the table with a mindset that incorporates innovation and investing.
Brandon is able to take big ideas and make them happen through tangible action plans and the technology — like carbon removal, grid resilience, and sustainable steel — necessary to execute them. If you ask those around her, there’s something extra special about the way Brandon operates. “What sets her apart is not just her brilliance, but her deep integrity,” says Emily. “Through her example, she inspires others to lead with purpose and persistence.” Brandon’s continued efforts and vision for what’s possible are changing the world not just for us, but for generations to come.
