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.

Satya Nadella success story

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