Driving Diversity in Tech Through Storytelling and Early STEM Exposure with Microsoft’s Bryan Kelly (Ep. 1)

As industries worldwide push deeper into digital transformation, the demand for STEM talent in the U.S. is soaring and increasingly unmet. In fact, the growth of jobs requiring STEM proficiency has accelerated sharply in recent years, outpacing the pipeline of skilled workers, particularly in technical fields that require postsecondary education. The shortage isn’t just a labor market issue; it’s a risk to the nation’s innovation capacity, diversity in tech, and economic competitiveness.

So how do we inspire underrepresented students to see themselves in STEM before they ever step foot in a college classroom?

In the latest episode of DisruptED, host Ron J Stefanski sits down with Bryan Kelly, Senior Director of Data Products at Microsoft, for a powerful conversation about how early exposure, self-learning, and storytelling are reshaping the future of STEM education. From his own unconventional journey to the launch of a STEM-themed book series, Kelly shares why reaching kids before college is key and how data can be a gateway to self-empowerment.

Key takeaways from the episode…

• Self-Taught to Microsoft: Kelly shares how self-guided learning and determination took him from bookstores to building enterprise-level data products.
• Early STEM Exposure is Critical: He argues that encouraging Black and brown students to pursue tech must start before college to strengthen diversity in tech and prevent disillusionment and dropouts.
• Storytelling as STEM Evangelism: Kelly introduces his new book, Cass Freeman: Decision Trees, a coming-of-age story that weaves real-world data science into a relatable, authentic narrative.

Bryan Kelly is a data and technology executive with over 15 years of leadership experience, currently serving as Senior Director of Data Products at Microsoft. He has led global teams of 100+ and managed $80M budgets across enterprise e-commerce, SaaS, marketing tech, and data strategy, with a consistent focus on operational excellence, data governance, and scalable architecture. Previously holding senior roles at Samsung and co-founding Montlake Labs, Kelly combines deep technical expertise with a proven track record in revenue growth, analytics innovation, and cross-functional collaboration.