Melissa Sassi

Senior Manager in Microsoft Airband Initiative, Microsoft

Seattle

As a Senior Manager in Microsoft Airband Initiative, Melissa is responsible for increasing access to the Internet within unconnected communities across the United States. Melissa’s focus includes business development, project management, community engagement, thought leadership, and Microsoft’s tribal connectivity strategy.

Microsoft’s strong culture of humanitarian support and civic engagement inspired Melissa to create MentorNations’, a youth-led digital literacy movement aimed at transforming the lives of the underserved via access, skills, and utilization of technology. As a PhD candidate and Co-Chair of IEEE’s Digital Skills Working Group that falls under the IEEE Internet Inclusion initiative, her research focuses on the tie between digital inclusion and economic empowerment of indigenous communities. She holds two master’s degrees in supply chain and finance, and completed her undergraduate degree at Missouri State in International Business Management and Spanish.