Elli Koulos bio

1. Elli Koulos is the Human Resources Manager for the Central Region’s Enterprise business. In this
capacity, she partners with the region’s business leaders to help develop the next generation of leaders
for the company. Key areas of focus in her role include talent management, ensuring effective
implementation of HR processes, helping to drive the organization’s recruiting and diversity plans and
providing excellence in employee relations. New in her role, Koulos is living Microsoft’s commitment to
providing flexible work arrangements by participating in a job share for this role.
Koulos’ tenure with Microsoft originally began in 1992 when she filled the role of Human Resources
Consultant for Microsoft’s U.S. Sales and Services group in the Central Region. At the time, the field
sales force was in its infancy so her partnering efforts with the leadership of the region focused on
recruiting top talent for all sales positions and the newly formed Microsoft Consulting Services. In
addition, she worked as a Human Resources Generalist where she provided a variety of people related
support across all areas of the business. Her experiences in human resources expanded as the region
grew and developed until she resigned her position in 1998 to spend more time with her young family.
During her eight year absence from Microsoft, Koulos worked with several young and growing
companies to help them design and implement human resources policies and procedures. These efforts
involved the development of detailed and comprehensive recruiting procedures, the development and
refinement of performance management systems, creating comprehensive employee handbooks and
management training. The industries with which she worked included pharmaceutical and consulting
services. In addition to these consulting projects, Koulos continued her affiliation with Microsoft as an
independent contractor for the U.S. Human Resources team.
Prior to Koulos’ years at Microsoft, she worked as a Human Resources Consultant for Software
Alternatives, Inc. There she helped grow young software consulting firm through aggressive recruiting
efforts and created and implemented new human resources policies. Concurrently, Koulos worked as an
Associate Professor for DePaul University’s School for New Learning, a non-traditional Bachelors Degree
program for adult students. For over ten years, she taught an admissions oriented workshop and
provided counseling to returning students. Koulos’ passion for people development, career planning
and education was fully realized in this and other positions she has held in her career.
Koulos holds a Bachelor’s degree in Family Services from Eastern Illinois University and a Master’s
degree in Education from Loyola University of Chicago. She and her husband Michael have two children
and live in Naperville, Illinois.