‘Hunt or be hunted’: Success just a hop, skip, and jump away for Netania Joseph
Microsoft UK & Ireland’s ‘Beyond the Badge’ series spotlights extraordinary people within Microsoft who go beyond the day job and achieve amazing things. In this latest instalment, we focus on Netania Joseph, an apprentice Solutions Engineer who shows customers how Microsoft Copilot can change the future of work. Beyond her role, she’s a national-level triple jumper with international ambitions.
Netania Joseph’s journey into athletics started early, almost by accident.
“I was always naturally fast and enjoyed sprinting,” she says. “But at a school competition they needed someone to do the triple jump. I found that I was able to hop, skip and jump like it was natural to me.”
For Netania, that was the moment that changed everything, despite some early reservations.
“Triple jumping is a sport many people rarely see or understand, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to give up my sprinting. But I realised it was something I could be great at.
“My coaches encouraged me, helping me reframe my thinking to see that not only was it a sport I could excel in, but I could also introduce people to the triple jump and let them see how good it can be.”
With the support of her family, especially her mum, she committed fully.
“My mum would drive me to every competition,” Netania recalls. “Even when it meant missing other things. Before I jumped, she’d get the crowd cheering for me.”
“That support system was vital – it spurred me on to focus on jumping longer and longer.”
That belief laid the foundations for what came next.
‘Hunt or be hunted’
Today, Netania Joseph competes at national level in triple jump, a discipline that demands precision, power, and relentless focus.
“I ended up growing and becoming a national level triple jumper,” she says.
Training is intense and varied. Each week is split across different elements of the sport including sprint speed, strength and conditioning, and the technical phases of the jump itself.
“You can’t be precious in the pursuit of excellence“
“It’s split into phases,” she explains. “On one day I might focus on sprinting, another on strength, and another on the jump itself.”
When it comes to competing, it hasn’t always been easy. But it’s Netania’s mindset that sets her apart.
“I remember competing in a relay race where I was the final runner for my team. We had such a big lead, I relaxed and let my foot off the gas… And we lost. I was beaten on the line.
“I was so upset. It was at this moment my coach sat me down and said ‘Netania, when it comes to athletics you either hunt or be hunted.’ That stuck with me.”
“A year later I was in the same race, competing against the same team. Only this time, when it came to my leg I started behind the competition. I just remembered, ‘hunt or be hunted’. I closed the gap and won the race for my team. It was a moment that propelled me to where I am today.”
Lessons from the track
Today, Netania is ranked in the top 10 triple jumpers in the UK. But beyond results, athletics has shaped how she approaches challenges more broadly, from resilience to handling feedback.
“I think Microsoft is a really good organisation to work in if you still want to chase your dreams outside of work“
“When it comes to taking feedback, you get to learn it’s not about you, it’s about improving,” she says. “You can’t be precious in the pursuit of excellence. It’s something I apply to everything I do.”
And the transferrable learnings go even further for Netania.
“The same way I think about a race, I think about a technical demo,” she explains. “Every step matters, every step requires thought and effort.”
Finding flexibility
Balancing a demanding role in technology with high-level sport isn’t easy. But for Netania, the environment at Microsoft makes it possible.
As an Apprentice Solutions Engineer, she spends her time delivering proof-of-concept demos and helping customers understand how technologies like Microsoft Copilot can transform their work.
It’s a demanding role to fit alongside her weekly training regime, but she manages to make it happen through careful planning and open communication.
“It’s a lot of planning,” she says. “And a lot of communication with my manager to allow that flexibility.
“I think Microsoft is a really good organisation to work in if you still want to chase your dreams outside of work,” she explains. “I always feel empowered to strive for growth in my job, but also have my own life as well.”
That support reflects a broader culture that recognises employees as individuals, not just job titles. It’s the same principle highlighted across Microsoft’s ‘Beyond the Badge’ stories, where employees are encouraged to pursue passions, build communities, and grow both professionally and personally.
Bright future
Netania Joseph is clear about her ambitions.
“In the future, I’m definitely interested in becoming an international athlete,” she says.
At the same time, she’s equally focused on her career in technology.
“I started with Copilot, I’m so excited to explore the many different technologies Microsoft has to offer,” she says.
Her plan is simple: grow, learn, and push boundaries, both on and off the track.
MORE ‘BEYOND THE BADGE’ STORIES
‘Remember what you’re here for’: Francis Nwofor’s social mobility story
‘Bringing digital confidence to the community that raised me’
From the pitch to the boardroom: Brittany Saylor’s inspiring journey