Defne Kudela

Defne is a Sr. Product Manager at Microsoft Development Center Prague, leading the strategy and execution for Microsoft Teams Calling and Meetings experiences. Passionate about innovation, AI and futurism, she has published multiple patents in communication and video-conferencing technologies.

Before joining Microsoft, she built her career across 3M, LEGO Group, starting her career during high school at an IT scale-up in Tampa, gaining over a decade of experience spanning Sales, Marketing, and Product Development across FMCG and tech.

She’s also a champion for Women in STEM and career growth, a social-impact fellow at nonprofit and mentoring professionals through global initiatives and other across 1:1 and circles.

She believes that mentorship and mindset shifts are catalysts for growth. Being a mother herself, she understands the challenges of parenting and work life balance. Outside of work you'll find her reading, traveling or at her local yoga studio.