After a day filled with tours where we learned about the history of Dublin, today the Plus3 Ireland group went on our first company visit to Microsoft, the company’s headquarters in Western Europe.  Before visiting the company’s office in Dublin, I had the impression that Microsoft was a “safe” company. In other words, one that doesn’t necessarily lead innovation or take major risks. In the tech world, one of its competitors who shall not be named has been more known for its innovation in the past few decades. That being said, while “safe” might have a negative connotation, I feel as though it also implies reliability. This duality is something that I believe is especially true for Microsoft. 

Upon entering into the Microsoft office building, I was extremely impressed with the interior architecture and design  of the building. The structure felt modern, but unlike a lot of contemporary buildings, it did not feel cold as the interior design, colors, and décor gave the office a homier feel. Mixing cutting edge design with elements of comfort is something that I left the site visit feeling is in Microsoft’s ethos and one that I felt was reflected in one of Microsoft’s latest innovations, the HoloLens. the first thing we did when we got the site visit was use Microsoft’s mixed reality headset which unlike its competitors, Microsoft only sells to other business consumers who are mainly manufacturing companies looking to increase efficiency. By focusing on the practical applications of virtual/enhanced/augmented reality, Microsoft affirms its image of being a reliable company in the tech field — something truly vital in today’s digital world.

Another thing I noticed while at the site visit was the amount of cultural diversity in the Microsoft’s Dublin office. While we visited the company’s headquarters in Ireland, surprisingly none of the  guest speakers were Irish. Instead, they were Dutch, German, and French.  While I knew that Dublin is a huge tech hub, I did not expect the city to attract so many people from different countries. Looking back, it does make sense, since Dublin does hold the Microsoft Headquarters of Western Europe and Ireland is part of the European Union. That being said, seeing so much cultural diversity from the rest of Europe does make me wonder about how Brexit has impacted the amount of immigration to Ireland? Since Britain’s decision to leave the EU, are more people immigrating to Ireland instead of England in search of greater job opportunities?