Satya Nadella, the Indian-origin tech executive, recently shared his initial reaction to becoming the CEO of Microsoft in 2014. During the Axel Springer award ceremony in Berlin, Nadella revealed that he never imagined a day when Microsoft would be led by anyone other than Bill Gates or Steve Ballmer.
When Ballmer announced his departure, Nadella admitted that he was taken aback. The board members then approached him and asked if he wanted to be the CEO. Nadella, who had spent his entire career at Microsoft under the leadership of Gates and Ballmer, responded, “Only if you want.” He had never considered the possibility before.
Nadella had a conversation with Steve Ballmer about this situation, and Ballmer’s response was intriguing. He told Nadella that it was too late to change, so he should just be himself and see what happens.
Taking over as the CEO of Microsoft in 2014, Nadella became the third CEO after Gates and Ballmer. In less than a year, he revised the company’s mission statement to focus on empowering every person and organization to achieve more. This was a shift from Ballmer’s mission statement, which aimed to create a family of devices and services, and Gates’ mission statement, which focused on having a computer on every desk and in every home.
Under Nadella’s leadership, Microsoft experienced significant changes in its corporate culture. The company emphasized continual learning and growth, and made ambitious acquisitions in the gaming, social networking, and software development sectors. Notably, Microsoft acquired Swedish gaming company Mojang, the makers of Minecraft, in 2014, followed by the acquisition of LinkedIn in 2016 and GitHub in 2018. In January, Microsoft announced a multi-billion-dollar investment in ChatGPT, and it is also set to acquire Activision Blizzard soon.
Nadella’s journey and accomplishments have garnered attention and recognition. He was recently honored with the Axel Springer award, and his views on empathy as a valuable business skill have been highlighted.
In conclusion, Satya Nadella’s appointment as the CEO of Microsoft brought about significant changes and accomplishments for the tech giant. His unexpected ascension to the position and his subsequent leadership have shaped the company’s direction and success in the digital era.
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