Can elephants dance? Satya
Nadella, only the 3rd CEO in Microsoft’s history certainly thinks
so, as he narrates the story of how he is trying to inject new life into
Microsoft’s soul.
Once nearly synonymous with
personal computing, Microsoft lost its mojo in the last decade as mobile phones
literally gatecrashed into our lives and became the primary channel
to access everything from music to internet. Many had written off Microsoft at
this stage, but Satya narrates how he is breathing new life into the company,
changing attitudes and bringing in new paradigms.
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| Microsoft, is changing, and making the world an even better place for us |
The book starts on a personal
note as the author traces his origins from childhood in the small towns of
India to his entry into Microsoft headquarters in Seattle in the early 1990s
and his eventual rise to the top in 2014. The author is modest in often acknowledging the role of luck in his success, pointing out how he always found himself at the right place at the right time. Son of a civil servant, the author narrates
his fascination for cricket and early leadership lessons he took from the game.
There are stories from the ups & downs in his personal life, like meeting the love of his life, and the trying
circumstances surrounding the birth of the first child.
This is a book about
transformation, one that is taking place within him and also within the company.
What was the situation at Microsoft when Satya took over? What did he inherit?
And what is it that he wants to change? Trying to bring about culture change in
such a big organization is not easy, it is a painfully slow grind but the
author’s efforts have slowly started showing results. There is now a renewed
growth mindset. Several key events and decisions, such as the launch of Windows
10, learnings from the Nokia acquisition and corporate dispute with Samsung
etc. are described, giving an insight into the author’s personality and working
style. The author shows how his seemingly unconventional decisions to partner arch-rivals
such as Apple or Google have paid off. Surprisingly, even in this dispassionate
world of coding and corporate strategy, Empathy keeps repeating itself.
And thankfully, the book doesn’t
end here!
In the latter sections, the author
takes a deep dive into technologies of the future, and how Microsoft is “trying
to imagine a better future for everyone”. It is this that I liked the most. The
author writes about three things Microsoft is betting on – Mixed Reality, Artificial
Intelligence and Quantum Computing. What are they? What can they do? And where
are we – the human race - heading? These are topics not just for the geeks. The
author shows how these technologies will become essential tools in everything
we do – from education to medicine, or help us fight cancer or global warming. Going
beyond pure computing, technologies of the future will not only help us see,
hear and analyze, but also “make us feel”. Does this mean machines will eventually ‘take
over’ - as some fear? Or will they only augment human capabilities to make this
world an even better place for all of us? It is this ‘Human vs. Machines’ OR ‘Human
+ Machines’ debate that is currently the rage the world over, and the author assures
us there is nothing to fear from the future.
In recent times, the growth of
technology has also thrown up difficult issues surrounding privacy, security
and free speech. The author discusses delicate issues such as privacy of user
data and government surveillance, the dilemma between privacy vs. security, individual
freedom and liberty vs. public safety. The author rues that laws always lag technological
changes, causing friction between Regulation and the Corporation. The role of
companies in modern society is also discussed.
As they say, ultimately the best
way to predict the future is to invent it. And that is what Microsoft is doing.
Do give this book a read – it did change my perception of Microsoft, and our future - for the
better.
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