Scott Oki: Footprints that Left Microsoft Rocking

Scott Oki was an American business executive. He was credited for building the international operations of Microsoft while working there are the vice president for sales and marketing. Oki also left an indelible footprint in the domestic operations of Microsoft at the time when the domestic revenues soared high to unprecedented levels in the 980s.

Oki was born on October 5, 1948 in Seattle, Washington to parents of Japanese-American descent. He attended the University of Washington but have to quit 18 months into his college to join the US Air Force. While serving in the military, Oki attended the University of Colorado. Oki left the US Air Force in 974 to pursue his bachelor’s degree in accounting and information systems. He also earned his MBA a year later. After taking a few computer-related jobs, Oki joined Microsoft in 1982.

In just two years, Oki built Microsoft’s international operations into a very profitable division - even more profitable than the company’s domestic operations. His succeed caused Bill Gates to promote him to the position of Vice President for Domestic Operations. Within five years, Microsoft’s domestic sales increased from $100 million to $ billion. This was after Oki convinced Gates and the board to refocus the company’s product development and marketing efforts to Windows from OS/2.

At his retirement in 1992, Oki was overseer of more than 3,000 employees. Oki cashed in his stock options for $100 million and founded the Oki Foundation, a non-profit organization. He also acquired a few golf courses. He is serving in the advisory boards and the boards of directors in several non-profit organizations and for-profit companies. Among his involvements include United Way of King County Campaign Board, Million Dollar Roundtable, Japanese American Chamber of Commerce, Chief Seattle Council Boy Scout Foundation, Sounders for Kids, America’s Foundation for Chess, SeeYourImpact.org, Social Venture Partners, University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation.