From Tech Titan to Ballet Entrepreneur: Adrienne Chan’s Elegant Career Pivot

In the bustling tech corridor of Redmond, Washington, Adrienne Chan has executed what might be the most graceful career transition in the region—not a simple pivot, but a full pirouette. The former Microsoft product manager recently opened Bellevue Classical Ballet, transforming her childhood passion into a thriving business venture. “I knew I had to do this because I couldn’t stop thinking about it,” Chan explains, describing the pull she felt toward opening her own ballet school despite her successful tech career. “I loved my job at Microsoft, and I wanted to do both… but 24/7 my mind was only thinking about the ballet school.” This obsession signaled to Chan that it was time to follow her heart, even if it meant leaving behind the security and prestige of one of the world’s largest technology companies.

Bellevue Classical Ballet, which opened its doors in September at Redmond Town Center, embodies Chan’s vision of an inclusive dance education environment serving students across all ages and skill levels. As executive director, Chan has partnered with Eric Hipolito Jr., formerly of Pacific Northwest Ballet School, who serves as artistic director. Their complementary skills create a strong foundation for the new venture. Chan’s journey to this point wasn’t a straight line—after initially interning at Microsoft in 2017, she spent nearly four years working on Azure products before departing in 2022 to pursue a Master of Science in entrepreneurship from the University of Washington. Although she briefly returned to Microsoft for another 11-month stint afterward, something still felt incomplete. “Something still felt a little off for me,” she admits. “I felt that maybe I wanted to stray a little bit more away from tech.” The irony wasn’t lost on Chan that while studying entrepreneurship, she developed a dance education app, unconsciously bridging her technical expertise with her passion for ballet.

Chan’s dance journey began in Toronto, where she transitioned from gymnastics to ballet at age nine, influenced by inspiring teachers who ignited her love for the art form. She later explored various dance styles through productions within Toronto’s Chinese community. Her professional path initially led her to study systems design engineering at the University of Waterloo, where an internship at a startup incubator sparked her interest in entrepreneurship. “I’ve never seen anything like that,” Chan recalls. “The drive that people have, the motivation—they just want to get work done. They’re so passionate.” This experience aligned with a memory from her high school “career class,” where she had listed both engineering and “CEO of a dance company” among her potential future professions—a premonition of her current dual expertise. Though she considered pursuing her master’s degree immediately after undergraduate studies, her commitment to Microsoft brought her to Seattle to begin her tech career first.

The decision to leave a prestigious, well-compensated position in tech surprised many in Chan’s life, particularly her parents. Despite working on products used by millions, Chan found herself longing for more direct human connection and impact. “I really did enjoy my job at Microsoft, but I knew it wasn’t what I wanted long term,” she explains. “I wanted something more meaningful, something that felt like I could make an impact on people.” Rather than viewing her technology background as a detour from her current path, Chan sees it as an essential part of her journey, providing her with valuable skills that enhance her approach to business ownership. “If I pursued dance in college, I don’t think I would be as successful doing this now,” she reflects. “I think that tech background really helped me do this.” Her experience demonstrates how seemingly unrelated professional experiences can combine to create unique advantages when pursuing one’s passion.

Chan has discovered numerous parallels between managing products at Microsoft and running her ballet school, particularly regarding the ambiguity inherent in both roles. She credits her tech background with developing her adaptability, decisiveness, and commitment to iteration—all qualities that serve her well as an entrepreneur. However, she maintains a balanced perspective on technology’s role in her new venture. When faced with complex scheduling challenges for the school, Chan opted for manual analysis rather than artificial intelligence solutions, stating, “No, I want to use my brain. I trust my brain.” She finds humor in the current symmetry of her life—teaching ballet to the children of Microsoft employees, who often work on laptops outside her studio during lessons, engaging in the same type of work she once did. This connection between her past and present worlds creates a uniquely satisfying ecosystem where tech and art coexist harmoniously.

Despite others characterizing her career change as risky or courageous, Chan views her decision through a different lens—one of necessity and authenticity rather than bravery. “It’s stressful. But I’m stressing for what I really want to be doing, what really matters to me,” she says with conviction. “I don’t think that’s replaceable at all. I don’t think there’s any other option.” This perspective highlights a profound truth about career fulfillment: sometimes the most meaningful path forward isn’t the most secure or conventional one. Chan’s story serves as an inspiring reminder that professional identities need not be singular or static. Her journey from Microsoft product manager to ballet school founder demonstrates how diverse skills, experiences, and passions can be integrated into a uniquely satisfying career—one where technical expertise and artistic expression dance in perfect harmony. In Redmond, where technology typically takes center stage, Chan has created a space where the grace and discipline of classical ballet can flourish, bringing balance to both her life and her community.