Nadella's leadership also saw a shift in Microsoft's culture, moving from a competitive, cutthroat environment to a more collaborative and open one. He also made significant acquisitions, including LinkedIn and GitHub, and embraced open source software. Despite some missteps, such as the failed HoloLens project, Nadella's focus on AI and strategic acquisitions have revitalized Microsoft, making it a relevant and influential player in the tech industry once again.
Key takeaways:
- Jaime Teevan joined Microsoft in 2006 and remained with the company through its struggles in the mobile era. She later became the company's chief scientist and was tasked with integrating AI into Microsoft's products.
- In 2014, Satya Nadella was promoted to CEO and set out to change Microsoft's internal culture. He focused on fostering a growth mentality and making the company less insular, including supporting open source software and making major acquisitions like LinkedIn and GitHub.
- In 2019, Nadella made the decision to partner with OpenAI, giving Microsoft access to its technology. Despite initial skepticism, the partnership proved successful, particularly with the development of the large language model, GPT-4.
- Under Nadella's leadership, Microsoft has seen a significant turnaround, becoming worth $3 trillion for the first time in its nearly 50-year history. The company's focus on AI and its partnership with OpenAI have been key factors in this success.