Tina Podlodowski was elected to City Council for the term beginning January 1996. During her single term on the Council, she chaired the Neighborhoods and Neighborhood Planning Committee (1996-1997); Technology and Telecommunications Committee (1996); Technology and Labor Committee (1997); and the Public Safety, Health, and Technology Committee (1998-1999). During her tenure on Council, Podlodowski was also an officer of the Economic Development Council locally; an advisory board member of Women for Health Care, Education, Reform, and Equity; and an executive committee member of the International Network of Gay Lesbian Officials. In 1999, she chose not to run for reelection in order to devote more time to her children. Prior to her election to City Council, Podlodowski worked for Microsoft Corporation where she held a variety of positions, including product manager for Microsoft Word, East Coast corporate sales manager, international marketing manager focusing on Europe and the Far East, and director and general manager of Microsoft University, the corporation's worldwide training program. She also co-founded the Gay and Lesbian Employees at Microsoft, and spearheaded the effort to establish domestic partnership benefits at the company.