Bill Gates Heaps Praise On Nadella: Empathetic And Inclusive

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India-West News Desk

SEATTLE, WA – Bill Gates recently shared his thoughts on Satya Nadella’s leadership at Microsoft, acknowledging that despite early doubts, Nadella has far surpassed expectations in guiding the company to success. Gates revealed that while he and Steve Ballmer had strong support for Nadella when considering him as a potential successor, there was initial uncertainty about whether he was the right choice to take the reins.

In the conversation with Brad Smith, Microsoft’s Vice Chair and President, Gates praised Nadella’s leadership, particularly his empathetic approach, which contrasts with Microsoft’s earlier hard-driving culture. Gates also noted the importance of humor and adaptability in navigating complex challenges.

Looking back on Microsoft’s early culture, Gates highlighted a shift under Nadella’s leadership. “We were speed nuts, staying all night… It was very hard-core,” Gates recalled. “But as this industry has matured, so has what’s expected of a CEO.”

What sets Nadella apart, Gates explained, is his ability to create a more empathetic and inclusive culture. “Satya has a natural ability to work well with lots of people, to tell people they’re wrong in a nice way, and to let feedback come through to him more than I did,” Gates said.

Gates has long praised Nadella’s leadership style, noting that in some ways, his successor is a better leader than he was. “I think as this industry has matured, so has what’s expected of a CEO,” Gates told the Wall Street Journal. “Satya’s ability to navigate Microsoft’s challenges has been extraordinary.”

Under Nadella’s guidance, Microsoft has seen remarkable growth, becoming a leader in AI and cloud computing, while its stock price has reached record highs.