When Satya Nadella became the CEO of Microsoft in 2014, he inherited a company that was struggling to keep up with the changing landscape of technology. Microsoft was losing ground to competitors like Apple, Google and Amazon in areas such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence and social networking. Nadella knew he had to make some bold moves to revive Microsoft's spirit of innovation and relevance.
One of his first steps was to change the culture of the company. He wanted to foster a growth mindset among his employees, encouraging them to learn from failures, collaborate across boundaries and embrace diversity. He also wanted to instill a sense of empathy for customers' needs and aspirations, which he believes is the key to creating products that people love. He wrote in his book Hit Refresh: "Innovation comes from having a deep sense of empathy."
Another step was to rethink Microsoft's strategy and vision. Nadella realized that Microsoft had to shift from being a software company that sells devices to being a platform company that enables others to create value. He also envisioned Microsoft as a leader in empowering every person and organization on the planet to achieve more through digital transformation. He articulated this vision as "cloud first, mobile first" and later as "intelligent cloud, intelligent edge".
Under Nadella's leadership, Microsoft has made significant progress in executing its vision. It has invested heavily in cloud computing, artificial intelligence and social networking, acquiring companies like LinkedIn, GitHub and Nuance. It has partnered with rivals like Apple, Google and Amazon on various initiatives that benefit customers and society. And it has regained its reputation as an innovator that shapes the future of technology.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the work the company is doing with AI in reimaging how we work. Microsoft 365 Copilot is a truly groundbreaking achievement. I encourage all of you to explore what the company has done here. People have called it a seminal moment, much like the launch of the iPhone, and I agree.
Satya Nadella has transformed Microsoft into an innovative company that is at the forefront of reimagining how we create, connect and work. He has done so by changing its culture, strategy and vision with empathy at its core. Truly a stunning example of the power of great leadership.