The Journey of Satya Nadella [Infographic]

When Satya Nadella took over as Microsoft’s CEO in 2014, it was perceived as a company whose best years were behind it. The company was struggling in many ways and needed a miracle to save it. A miracle is what happened to it when Satya assumed its command. Learn how Satya Nadella – a simple student who wanted to pursue a cricketing career, became the leader of this big tech organization, revived its fortunes, and made it one of the most valuable companies in the world today.

Infographic Content:

Early childhood

• Born on 19 August 1967 in the Southern Indian city of Hyderabad.
• His father was a civil servant, and his mother worked as a Sanskrit professor.
• As a kid, he wanted to enrich people’s lives through technology.

Education

• Did his schooling at the Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet.
• In 1988, got his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from MIT, Karnataka.
• In 1990, he got his Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• In 1996, he did MBA from the Booth School of Business, University of Chicago.

Growing passion towards computers

• Besides cricket, he developed a strong passion for computers.
• By the 1980s, Satya Nadella learned to write BASIC code.
• In 1988, he went to Chicago to pursue a Master’s in Computer Science.

“This is a software-powered world.”

Early work life

• In 1990, he started working at Sun Microsystems, Inc., as a member of its technology staff.
• In 1992, he got the job at Microsoft.

An astonishing career at Microsoft

• Between 2007-2011, he was promoted to lead the Business Solutions division.
• Later, given the responsibility of Bing search engine business.
• After the success of Bing, he led Microsoft’s cloud computing business.
• Brought Microsoft’s most popular technologies to the cloud called – Azure.
• Responsible for the cloud revolution at Microsoft.
• In 2011, he became the executive VP of Microsoft Business Division and its Cloud and Enterprise group.
• From 2011-13 served as the president of Microsoft’s server and tools business
• In 2014, he became the CEO of Microsoft.
• In 2021, he became the executive chairman.
• Currently holds both the positions – CEO and executive chairman.

“Microsoft is the platform and productivity company for the cloud-first and mobile-first world.”

Major acquisitions under his leadership

• In 2014 – Oversaw Microsoft’s $7.2 billion acquisition of Nokia Corp.’s mobile-device business.
• In 2016 – oversaw the acquisition of LinkedIn.

Awards and recognitions

• In 2018, joined TIME’s 100 Most Influential People List.
• In 2019, bagged Fortune’s Businessperson of the Year.
• In 2021, received the prestigious CK Prahalad Award
• Ranks fifth in the top 10 richest Indian professional managers

“The way I measure my life is ‘Am I better than I was last year?'”

The Author

In 2017, he co-wrote his best-selling book – Hit Refresh with Greg Shaw and Jill Tracie Nichols.

Philanthropic endeavors

• Supports Eaton Arrowsmith Academy – a special education school in Vancouver, Canada.
• In 2016, joined the Cerebral Palsy Foundation in 2016
• In 2021, pledged a donation of $15 million to the Seattle Children’s Hospital.
• One of the board of directors of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
• Profits from his book go to Microsoft Philanthropies.

Some interesting facts from his life

• During his student life, he wanted to become a cricketer.
• Bill Gates re-joined Microsoft to mentor him when he became the CEO.
• He is an avid reader and writer.
• Under his reign, Microsoft’s stocks tripled in just four years.
• He is the highest-paid tech CEO in the US.

Sources

• Britannica.com
• CNBC
• Startupstories.com
• Forbes.com
• Business-standard.com
• Inc.com