Sara Cardiff

PMP-certified program manager with 10+ years driving creative operations at Microsoft Xbox / Turn 10 Studios (Forza Motorsport) — bringing enterprise PM discipline and firsthand creative production experience as sole writer, director, producer, and editor of an independent documentary.

Business Operations Program Manager at MICROSOFT — Xbox / Turn 10 Studios (Forza Motorsport Franchise) (2018-05 – 2022-01)

Owned program and project management, rhythm of business, and strategic operations for 10 senior leaders including Chief of Staff, supporting a cross-functional studio of 300+ across engineering, franchise, recruiting, and culture teams.

• Rebuilt the internal SharePoint ecosystem end-to-end — managed a $150K–$350K external vendor engagement from RFI and SOW issuance through full implementation — increasing resource efficiency by 40% and establishing version-controlled knowledge management across the studio.
• Redesigned internal hiring documentation and workflow governance, doubling collaboration efficiency between Studio Hiring Managers and the Microsoft Recruiting Group; established compliance tracking and best practices.
• Streamlined production pipelines for the Internal Franchise Team by redesigning milestone timelines, clarifying deliverables, and building structured stakeholder update cadences using Teams and SharePoint.
• Directed full logistics for E3 2019 — managed apparel procurement, hotel accommodations, and travel coordination for 20+ studio team members; developed and executed the studio booth schedule; and aligned on-site activities across staff, partners, and VIPs.
• Led the Data-Driven Studio initiative — managed a ~$150K project budget to procure and install 22 Power BI display stations across all studio team areas through multiple external and internal suppliers — deployed the dashboard infrastructure that delivered real-time KPI visibility for senior leadership across daily, weekly, and monthly reporting cycles.
• Led Game Launch Readiness as primary operational lead — partnered with the Executive Producer and Chief of Staff to plan and manage a ~$250K budget across procurement of launch apparel, commemorative gifts, recognition items, and studio-wide game codes for internal and external development teams; delivered weekly executive status communications through launch day.
• Designed and launched a studio-wide Onboarding Program — defining training competencies, allocating resources, delivering curriculum, and measuring outcomes — achieving 100% satisfaction ratings across all cohorts (2020–2021).
• Launched a virtual cross-functional Networking Program during the WFH transition, building cross-team cohesion across geographic and organizational boundaries — earning 100% satisfaction ratings (2020–2021).
• Analyzed stakeholder needs across 300+ staff, aligned expectations with senior leadership, negotiated project agreements across Recruiting, Franchise, and Operations, and maintained consistent high-clarity communication cadences while continuously identifying and removing impediments to keep simultaneous workstreams on track.
• Led studio-wide DE&I program portfolio — conducting needs analysis, developing curriculum, facilitating sessions, and partnering with Microsoft Global Recruiting to build a compliance-aligned resource guide establishing inclusion as a measurable business driver across 300+ employees (2019–2021).
• Designed and facilitated a Women's Offsite Learning session and led a seven-person Gaming Spirit Ambassador team delivering mental health resources, wellness programming, and monthly "Spirit Office Hours" across the studio (2020–2021).
• Additional Leadership: Culture Council Lead (2020–2021) ● Level-Up Onboarding Program Lead (2020–2021) ● Intern Selection Committee Co-Lead (2021) ● Microsoft GIVE Campaign VP Appointed Lead (2018–2021)

Business Operations Associate at MICROSOFT — Xbox / Turn 10 Studios (Forza Motorsport Franchise) (2017-05 – 2018-05)

Coordinated projects, product launches, events, and studio business programs for 10 executives and 200+ staff. (Contracted via Hanson Consulting.)

• Directed studio-wide building relocation for 200+ employees across 5 teams with zero operational downtime, using meticulous scope management and cross-functional coordination.
• Improved executive efficiency by streamlining calendar management, expense tracking, and cross-departmental workflows using Microsoft 365 tools.
• Co-led E3 2018 strategy and execution, aligning stakeholder deliverables and managing scope across multiple business units.

Independent Filmmaker & Digital Artist at Cardiff Creative (2022 – Present)

Documentary Film, Digital Art & Design. Deepened firsthand creative production experience through independent documentary filmmaking, digital art, and focused entertainment and marketing coursework alongside continued PM development.

• Served as sole writer, director, producer, cinematographer, and editor of Dragonfly (2022), a 24-minute solo narrative documentary; featured submission for the NYU Tisch / Yellowbrick Film & Television Essentials Showcase. Available at Dragonfly Film.
• Developed a comprehensive entertainment marketing and brand strategy capstone project for a major Amazon Prime Video franchise (UCLA Extension, Marketing Entertainment: Strategies for the Global Marketplace, 2024) — covering creative advertising planning across audio, visual, and design; a phased social media rollout roadmap; and brand partnership and custom content concepting.
• Completed NYU Tisch Business of Entertainment Certificate (2024, Film and Television track) — streaming strategy, IP management, content production, and distribution; taught by executives from Activision Blizzard, Amazon, Netflix, HBO, Apple TV+, and Universal.
• Produces and publishes original dot art and digital design through Cardiff Creative on Redbubble — 146 designs featuring mandalas, nature motifs, animals, and zodiac themes created in Adobe Photoshop.
• Active participant in PMI PMP Mentorship Program, refining strategic planning and cross-industry positioning.

Office Manager & Operations Coordinator at Kona Medical, Inc. (2014-09 – 2016-12)

• Managed C-suite calendars coordinated Board of Directors meetings and directed domestic and international travel logistics for 40+ employees.
• Partnered with HR to design and implement a structured onboarding program, improving cross-functional efficiency for leadership-level hiring.
• Directed budgeting, planning, and procurement for all office operations through strategic vendor management.
• Planned and executed employee engagement and recognition programs that measurably boosted morale and team cohesion.

Bachelor of Arts in Biology – Central Washington University