Microsoft innovator chosen to deliver prestigious lecture
A former University of Wolverhampton graduate who was part of the pioneering team behind the Xbox Kinect, is returning to the institution to deliver its prestigious annual lecture.
Val Wright will deliver the Crystal Lecture, a joint event hosted by the University and the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), on Thursday (October 26).
Born in Stourbridge, Ms Wright joined Microsoft and was part of the small team that created the fastest-selling device of all time, Kinect for Xbox. The device went on to notch up global sales in excess of 20 million.
But she was successful long before this. The innovation expert founded her first company aged 15 as part of the HSBC sponsored Young Enterprise Scheme. Then House of Fraser sponsored her day release from its Management Training Scheme so she could study Business and Finance HNC at the University.
After tenures with Land Rover – then under BMW ownership – and Marconi, she joined Microsoft after it acquired the Rare games studio in Twycross. She went on to lead the transformation following acquisition, before Microsoft relocated her to Seattle and the Xbox headquarters where she worked with the small team that created the Kinect for Xbox.
The success of the device contributed to the turnaround of Microsoft’s Entertainment business from a billion-dollar loss to a multi-million-dollar profit machine.
The global clients who have requested her help include Starbucks, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Financial Times, Gartner, and DreamWorks Animation.
She has also written a number of books, including Thoughtfully Ruthless: The Key to Exponential Growth, which was named Business Book of the Year 2017 by the Independent Press Awards.
She is also a regular contributor to CNBC, Fast Company, Bloomberg, Reuters, LA Times, MSN, and Today.
She now lives in California with her three daughters and husband.
Her lecture, titled Making a Positive Difference by being Thoughtfully Ruthless, will take place in the University’s Mary Seacole Building in Nursery Street, Wolverhampton.
There will be refreshments and networking in the University’s Lord Swraj Building from 6pm, before the lecture starts at 7pm.
Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Miceal Barden, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming an innovation expert of Val Wright’s acclaim to present the Crystal Lecture.
“As a graduate of the University who has gone on to great things at companies including Microsoft, Amazon, BMW, House of Fraser and Marconi, we are really looking forward to hearing her insights into business, innovation and growth.”
