Kurt Sahlin

As I wrap up my first week as SVP of Customer Experience at Mural Health, I’m filled with gratitude and excitement for what lies ahead. Throughout my career, I’ve been drawn to organizations where customer experience isn’t just about retention or growth. It’s about helping people achieve something that truly matters. Mural Health is exactly that kind of place. Clinical trials are only possible because patients and research teams dedicate their time, energy, and trust to advancing medicine. Mural Health exists to be an ally to those participants and the clinical coordinators who support them every day, helping remove barriers and creating a more compassionate, seamless experience throughout the trial journey. As someone who has spent my career leading Customer Success organizations, this role feels like a meaningful next chapter. It’s an opportunity to apply everything I’ve learned about building customer-centric teams and experiences in service of a mission that has the potential to improve countless lives. I’m incredibly grateful for the warm welcome I’ve received and excited to work alongside such a talented team and innovative product vision led by Samuel Whitaker. I can’t wait to continue learning, listening, and contributing. Here’s to building experiences that make a meaningful difference for the people at the heart of healthcare! Obligatory home office selfie because, ya know, #wfh ☺️

After 18 incredible years, I am officially retired from Microsoft and I will begin a new chapter in retirement.   Yet when I reflect on my time at Microsoft, it is not the technology that stands out most—it is the people. I am deeply grateful to the leaders who invested in me throughout my career. My first manager, Debra Pollard, gave me the opportunity to begin this journey. I would also like to thank Meghan Bergerson, Sarmila Basu, Jim Yang, Neera Talbert, Olga Ivina, Ricardo Castro Garcia, Nathan Brown, and many others who provided mentorship, encouragement, trust, and leadership along the way. Your guidance helped shape me both professionally and personally, and I will always be thankful and grateful. To my colleagues, partners, and customers: thank you so much for the opportunity to learn, collaborate, and solve challenging problems together. We celebrated successes, navigated obstacles, and built relationships that I will cherish long after my Microsoft badge is retired. The excellence, generosity, and dedication of Microsoft's people are what truly make this company special.  Microsoft's mission—to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more—is more than a statement. I have seen it lived out every day through the passion, creativity, and commitment of the people I have had the privilege to work alongside. It has been an honor to contribute to that mission. As I step into retirement, I do so with a heart full of gratitude and anticipation. I look forward to spending more time with my wife, my five lovely children, and future grandchildren. I am also excited to dedicate more time to serving others through mentoring, community involvement, Bible teaching, supporting local churches, visiting seniors in Adult Family Homes, and encouraging people wherever life may take me. My hope is to continue making a positive difference in the lives of others and to invest in what matters most—people. Thank you, Microsoft, for 18 unforgettable years. Thank you very much to the many colleagues, leaders, customers, partners, and friends who have been part of this journey. I leave with wonderful memories, lifelong friendships, and deep appreciation for all of you. Although my Microsoft career is coming to a close, I believe the best way to honor the opportunities we have been given is to continue serving, learning, and helping others. The career chapter is closing, but the mission continues. "Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last."

After 16 remarkable years at Microsoft — representing half of my 32‑year career in the IT industry — I’ve made the decision to retire from Microsoft, with my last day being July 1. It’s a milestone that still feels surreal to say out loud.   Before joining Microsoft in 2010, my career was shaped by building platforms, large‑scale infrastructure, and developer tools focused on one audience: developers. When I arrived at Microsoft, that mission didn’t just continue — it expanded. My work across Bing, Windows, and Xbox allowed me to amplify that impact at immense scale, solving real customer problems and helping shape experiences that reached millions.   But the most defining chapter of my Microsoft journey — the part that became my true home — was the 11 years I spent in Xbox which shaped me in ways I’ll never forget. The work we did together was meaningful, technically ambitious, and deeply collaborative. It was where the magic happened.   And as proud as I am of the products and services we delivered, what stands out even more are the people.   The engineering debates that sparked breakthroughs. The problem solving that pushed us forward. The wins that felt bigger because we built them together.   I’ve been fortunate to work alongside some of the brightest, most passionate talent in the industry — engineers, designers, PMs, partners — across Redmond, Costa Rica, China, India, and beyond. I’m proud of the products we shipped, the customers we served, and the roadmaps we shaped. But I’m even more proud of the relationships formed along the way. Those are what I’ll carry with me.   Microsoft has been so much more than a place to work. It’s been a community — one I’ve grown with, learned from, and felt connected to.   One passion developed throughout my career will remain front and center: helping early‑career professionals, interns, and new graduates build confidence, clarity, and readiness for the modern workforce through mentorship. I’ll do this by translating decades of high‑stakes product leadership into practical guidance for early‑career professionals to accelerate and navigate the complexities of the tech industry. This includes AI‑powered productivity coaching - teaching how to leverage tools like Copilot & Claude to work smarter and amplify their impact.   My mission now is simple: prepare the next generation of talent to launch strong, grow fast, and thrive in an AI‑accelerated world.   As I step into this next chapter, I’ll do so with deep gratitude. Life ahead will be just as full — graduate studies, volunteerism, intentional time with family, selective short-term consulting, hobby pursuits, international travel — all while staying focused on health and well‑being.   This isn’t goodbye — it’s a transition.   To everyone I’ve had the privilege to work with, whether for a moment or many years: thank you. You made this journey unforgettable.   Please stay in touch! You can reach me through LinkedIn.   Looking forward to staying connected.

It took plenty of "No"s before my first property listing came along. Commercial Real Estate is a tough business to get a foothold in. Then an opportunity appeared in April. I met an owner who was looking to lease out his building. Backed by an experienced team, we hit the ground running. Before month's end, the property was fully leased, after being nearly 60% vacant. I have a LOT to learn... but helping this landlord's property return to full capacity while accompanying local entrepreneurs was a rewarding project. The "No"s will not disappear, yet my "why" is now apparent. If you own or need commercial space in CA, I'd love to connect. 

I’m excited to share that I’ve officially earned my Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) after completing my clinical fellowship! 🎉 Grateful for the support along the way — and looking forward to what’s ahead in this next chapter of my career.

Update: I just started my dream job 😁. I’m excited to share that I’m now leading UX Research at Chewy. Anyone who knows me has probably been subjected at some point to one of my pet-related info dumps: perhaps dog training and agility 🐕, stories about foster kittens 🐱, or (if you’re really lucky) seeing my pet rats running around my home office while I'm on Zoom calls 🐁. Getting to do the work I love in service of pet parents, while surrounded by colleagues who are just as passionate about pets as I am, is incredibly meaningful.  Grateful is an understatement. Excited for what's ahead. 🐶

Proud moment for our OPENLANE Marketplace team as we share our 2026 Q1 results. This quarter reflects the continued strength of our platform and the progress we’re making in building the most trusted, efficient digital marketplace for wholesale vehicles. With solid revenue performance and continued momentum across our marketplace, we’re seeing the benefits of our focus on scale, liquidity, and customer experience come through. But what stands out most to me isn’t just the numbers, it’s the team behind them. Across every function, our teams are executing with focus, urgency, and a deep commitment to our customers. From improving dealer experiences, to driving growth in key segments, to delivering operational excellence day in and day out, this performance is a direct result of your work. We are building something special at OPENLANE: ✔️ A marketplace powered by data, technology, and trust ✔️ A platform that continues to grow in scale and relevance ✔️ A team that consistently delivers and raises the bar Thank you to everyone across the marketplace organization for your hard work and dedication. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and even more excited about where we’re headed. Let’s keep building. 🚀 https://lnkd.in/e-7Ne5At

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Amazon Headquarters in downtown Seattle and reflect on one of the most valuable experiences of my academic and professional journey. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mr. Kevin Gasper, Finance Director at AWS Amazon, for being one of the best mentors I have ever met. Before joining the Academic Mentor Program, I believed I already had a solid understanding of finance and technology. However, throughout this one-year program, I realized how much more there was to learn. Kevin shared valuable insights about finance within the tech industry, real-world experiences, leadership perspectives, and many inspiring stories that expanded my way of thinking. This mentorship experience not only strengthened my technical and analytical knowledge, but also gave me a broader perspective on the intersection of finance, technology, and business leadership. Thank you again, Kevin, for your guidance, support, and willingness to share your experience. I truly appreciate everything I learned during this journey. #Amazon #Finance #Mentorship #Technology #Leadership #Seattle #CareerGrowth