Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO, was interviewed by a team of India Today Group editors, consisting of Raj Chengappa, Prosenjit Datta and Sanghamitra Chakraborty, at his office in Seattle, USA.
It is brave of you to write a book in the midst of being the CEO—in the fog of war, as you call it. Normally CEOs wait for their successes and years later talk about it. So why did you do it?
SATYA NADELLA: The impetus for the book came from not as much trying to recount what has happened or even just talk about the future, but to talk about the process of transformation. Because I realised that so much of what one does as a leader in any context—and also what one does in life as you live it—is deal with change. So, I felt that reflecting on that while you’re going through it is, in fact, cathartic and clarifying, rather than do one of those exposed ‘look-backs’.
One of the inspirations for this was a meeting with Steve (Ballmer, Nadella’s predecessor) maybe six months after he left. When I asked him, “Hey, are you writing a book?”, he had a fantastic answer. He said, “No, it’s too boring to look back into the past.” And that’s when it struck me—right now, while I’m in the midst of it. By no stretch am I claiming the journey is done, the transformation is finished or any successes have been achieved. But, I thought, let me reflect on Microsoft’s own journey, the moments of transformation, and then our own society. And so that’s the three stanzas that were really the impetus for it.
ITG: You talk of the soul of Microsoft and ask existential questions in the book. Isn’t that somewhat of an Indian thing to do?
This story is from the October 02, 2017 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 02, 2017 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BJP's Big Paschim Test
On paper, the BJP-RLD tie-up is a winner for the NDA in west UP, though the INDIA bloc thinks otherwise. The BSP's entry with mixed candidates can unsettle both alliances
Why Gen V Matters
The Way The 210 Million-Strong Generation Viksit Bharat Casts Its Vote Will Determine The Outcome Of This Election As It Has In The Past
Heart Stopper
Cushions with tales of beauty, serenity, art and nature
THE NIPPON NARRATIVE
Say konnichiwa to good design and sayōnara to bad aesthetics, as this apartment in Bangalore is a lesson in how to use Japanese design effectively
RURAL RESPLENDENCE
This second home in a small village in Uttar Pradesh brings to life the beauty and simplicity of locally sourced materials
Curves in the Right Places
Arches may be taking over interior design, but how and where you place them in your home can make or mar the look of the room
Marvels in Mud
Here's how this humble material is changing the way we look at eco-friendly homes in India
DESIGN FOR THE AGES
Five homes, five distinct design styles that help decode how to curate age-appropriate spaces
TAKE FIVE
FROM RUGS TO CUSHIONS, THESE DECOR PIECES WILL GIVE YOUR INTERIORS AN INSTANT MAKEOVER THIS SEASON
TRENDY TABLESCAPES
At the turn of the season, three fashion labels throw a soiree that is stylish, suave and sophisticated