Microsoft investor who pushed shareholder vote on harassment report says change is coming
By Jorden Novet, January 16, 2022
Natasha Lamb was shocked. It was November, and Microsoft shareholders had just agreed with her proposal to push the software maker into issuing a public report on the effectiveness of its sexual harassment policies.
Microsoft opposed the measure and urged investors to vote it down. But the company lost and, because of the decision, Microsoft said on Thursday that it will review its policies and issue a report in the spring.
“It’s so rare to get a majority vote,” Lamb, a founding partner and portfolio manager at impact investment firm Arjuna Capital, said in an interview after Microsoft made its announcement last week. Arjuna owns a stake in Microsoft worth close to $20 million, according to a regulatory filing.
Lamb said she was pleased with Microsoft’s commitment to hire a law firm to conduct an independent assessment and look into executive level cases, including one involving Bill Gates, Microsoft’s co-founder and former CEO.