About
Laurel Cifala, class of ’07, has some advice she’d like to share with current Carroll students. After graduating with a degree in Communications and Public Relations, she moved to Seattle, where she now lives with her husband, Ellis (’08), and their two children, Claire and Grant. Laurel works in communications at Microsoft, a role she describes as sitting “at the intersection of leadership and communication,” and she offers a few insights into how she got there.
Her first piece of advice: “Lean into opportunity, even when it feels a little uncomfortable.” Laurel remembers pushing herself outside her comfort zone during her time at Carroll, where she was encouraged to “speak up, think bigger, connect ideas, and stay curious.” She credits Professor Brent Northup in particular—his challenging, thought-provoking classes helped her grow in unexpected ways and sharpen her critical thinking and writing.
That willingness to engage fully with her communications opportunities has shaped Laurel into a confident internal and external communicator at Microsoft. Whether she’s crafting strategic stories, elevating executive visibility, or translating complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives, her days often include scanning what’s new across the company and industry, drafting keynote messaging, refining LinkedIn content, and aligning communication strategies with business needs.
Laurel’s second piece of advice: “listen closely to people who see the world differently - not to debate, but to learn.” Though she was mentored by Northup, Carroll’s debate coach, she emphasizes that communication is equally about listening. From Carroll’s tight-knit community, she carried forward values of empathy, humility, and genuine respect for others. These guide her daily work: “I spend a lot of time thinking about how to communicate with clarity and purpose. It’s a mix of listening, writing, and advising.”
Her final piece of advice: “Don’t stress about having it all figured out right away. The path will unfold, and the best parts often come from the unexpected turns.” From her early days in Guad Hall to career doors opened through introductions from Brent Northup, Laurel has experienced plenty of those turns herself. Now at Microsoft, what she finds most rewarding is helping people feel connected and confident—whether that’s aligning employees with company strategy or giving a leader clarity before a major moment. “I get to be behind the scenes, shaping how big ideas are shared and understood,” she says. “When a message lands and you can feel the shift in energy, I love it.”