Growing up, there are many things we want to be and do. Sometimes, the door gets shut in our face and we look for another door. Other times, we keep knocking until we get what we want.

Today, Albert Dankwa is a Content Program Manager at Microsoft where he manages social media, web and production for Xbox. He’s also a gaming lifestyle content creator who has faced many rejections on his journey into Microsoft—like not having enough experience.

This is Albert’s story on making his own way and creating his own job at Microsoft 🙌🏼

The bus will always come. Sometimes your back is turned. Other times you walked away or can’t pay the fare. Do everything you can now, so you don’t miss the bus.

– Albert Dankwa

A wild reflection from Rite-aid to retail and running 💭

Growing up, Albert wanted to be a meteorologist, but then realized he wasn’t a fan of heights. He then decided to study psychology at Bronx Community College but then did not have enough money or any financial aid to take a required math class. This led him to work as a part-time employee at Rite-Aid for $7.45/hour, which allowed him to take a small loan out for school. After leaving Rite-Aid because of a disparaging manager, Albert went to work at the NBC Studios gift shop in Times Square where he became interested in getting a corporate internship… the blocker was that he wasn’t a full-time student.

Instead of giving up on this path, Albert learned how to network. He joined LinkedIn and connected with the NBC corporate folks who went to the same cafeteria. Through his networking, he found opportunities to engage fans on the sets of the Today Show, Jimmy Fallon, and SNL. Albert eventually landed an interview with Dateline NBC—they told him to go back to school and get a bachelor’s degree, so he decided to study Media & Communications in the evenings.

One weekend during the 2012 elections, Albert volunteered for a political event where he was helping someone fix their Xbox 360. Coincidentally, someone connected in some capacity to Microsoft heard him troubleshooting and helped him secure an opportunity to help launch Xbox One with Best Buy during the holiday release window. The launch didn’t go that well, so the program ended around the same time that NBC let him go because they felt like he was too dedicated to his gaming aspirations. In his last semester of school, Albert ended up working at a running company and eventually learned how to run his first marathon!

Getting a foot in the door 👟

Finally in 2015, Albert got into Microsoft after hearing about a hiring event for its flagship store on LinkedIn. Once he got his foot in the door, he volunteered for everything gaming related and was eventually chosen to run a Minecraft workshop with kids and press from around the world—where he first met CEO, Satya Nadella!

Soon after, Albert set his sights on joining the corporate side of Microsoft. He tried getting into the Aspire new grad program but found that he was up against students from more prominent schools like Columbia and NYU. When networking, he kept getting told that he didn’t have enough experience. When he finally landed an apprenticeship to work at the HQ in Redmond for 3 months, he was sent home early because budget ran out.

To do what hasn’t done before, you have to become someone people haven’t seen before. 

 – Major Nelson

Amongst the dejection, Albert found solace in the Black at Microsoft ERG community where he’d volunteer and attend events. Through his involvement, he became the first retail employee on stage for the inaugural stock market closing bell ceremony and got the opportunity to work with Major Nelson, who was the face of the Xbox brand. After receiving some motivating career advice, Albert decided to start his own gaming newsletter with Sway.

From content curator to culture creator 💫

In his newsletters, Albert would regurgitate news and spice it up with tips, tricks, demos and how-tos. He couldn’t afford all the gadgets and devices, so he’d go into the store early or stay late to unbox floor models. He also maxed out his own credit card and used up all his vacation time to attend gaming conventions and interview people. Over time, his newsletter gained global recognition with subscribers from Australia to the UK—catching the attention of Xbox executives including now-CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer!

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and Microsoft decided to close its stores, retail employees were given an opportunity to support other business programs. This led Albert to another apprenticeship helping the Digital Stores team launch Xbox Series X and S. Albert strategically pursued a master’s degree online where he learned how to deliver content, and his efforts led to his role as a Content Program Manager being created!

Albert’s biggest career tips 🎈

Your story will always be told, but are you the one with the pen?

– Albert Dankwa

1. Have a plan for your brand because this is the best way to stand out—sometimes it’s the deciding factor. You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room, but people need to know who you are. It takes time to build a brand and develop a digital footprint (e.g. LinkedIn, social). This way, people don’t see you as a stranger. Then, get involved across communities because it helps you build your brand as someone who is hungry and engaged.
2. Know what you’re willing to sacrifice and what is non-negotiable when setting your end goal. Knowing what you are willing vs. not willing to do helps you establish a foundation and prevents you from getting taken advantage of. Once you are clear on this, figure out what your threshold for sacrifice is… how much are you willing to sacrifice mentally, personally, professionally, socially?
3. Give yourself grace along the journey. There will be ups and downs, but don’t beat yourself down to a point of depression or giving up. Your will is the most important thing outside of skill. If you don’t have will, then it doesn’t matter how much you know because you’ll end up giving up. So, give yourself grace and trust that you’ll bounce back from this setback.
4. Curiosity opens doors. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Nurture your imagination and let it pour into your passion. Once you have a passion, it creates a vision. Once you have a vision, find connection to the businesses and communities you want to get into. Show up, be present, and put a face to your name.

Give yourself grace instead of giving up.

– Albert Dankwa

Thanks for reading 👀

Thank you so much to Albert for taking the time to share his inspiring story with us. I hope this helps motivate some of you who may be feeling dejected in this not-so-nice job market. There’s so much opportunity out there, and with a little bit of grit, you may even be able to create your own opportunities like Albert did.

Learn more about Albert’s story and find more inspiring stories in my #MakingTheMove series!