Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella is different from your typical American CEO. He was raised in Hyderabad, a technology hub in southern India, home to the company’s largest research and development center outside the US. His father was an Indian Administrative Service officer who served on the Planning Commission under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Then, at 21, Nadella moved to the United States to study computer science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In the 1990s, when Microsoft’s cloud computing business was increasing, he became an essential part of its management team under Doug Burgum, who later became the governor of North Dakota.
He was promoted rapidly and now oversees the entire company’s online services division, generating more than $19 billion in revenue. Known as the “Microsoft Maven,” he has been named FT Person of the Year, Barron’s Tech Titan, and Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, among others.
As a result of his hard work and vision, the tech giant is thriving. It has expanded into a significant consumer and enterprise business, boasting an impressive lineup of online tools and products. Its cloud platform powers everything from the search engine Bing to the Xbox gaming network and the Office 365 subscription-based software.
But it was only sometimes smooth sailing for the tech giant. A few years ago, it was at risk of technological irrelevance, but the company regained its footing under Nadella’s leadership.
One of the reasons for this turnaround is that Nadella has embraced a culture of openness and transparency at the company, which has boosted its stock price and helped it reclaim its reputation as a leader in corporate responsibility. This philosophy stems in large part from one of the most challenging events in his personal life: In 1996, Nadella’s first child, Zain, was born with severe cerebral palsy.
The event changed how he looked at the world and prompted him to change how Microsoft operated. Nadella has prioritized making the company as accessible as possible for those with disabilities and has pushed his executive team to do the same.
Despite this, some critics believe Nadella’s approach needs to go further. Last year, he was criticized for telling a female audience at the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing that they should stop asking for raises and trust that the system will reward them appropriately.
But, even though he’s faced criticism for his views, the fact is that Nadella has made a significant impact on Microsoft. His decision to invest more in the company’s Indian operations and launch new products in India is a clear sign of that. In addition, he has embraced the country’s culture and values, making it a good place for employees to live and work. This makes him a popular figure in the country and has earned him many fans.