Hit Refresh. Satya Nadella’s Extreme Makeover of Microsoft
Wow! That’s the one single word that come into my mind while reading the book “Hit Refresh” by Mr. Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO.
I have watched the transformation he has been leading, and even as a complete outsider, the changes have been enormous, and truly impressive. Moving such a giant company in such a quick pace is amazing, and although he has not done everything alone, I think nobody will question who’s been in charge. In my previous jobs I have been working closely with quite a number of Microsoft employees, which has been a great privilege. They told that Mr. Nadella made a huge impact on the entire organization more or less since he was announced as the successor of Steve Ballmer. Microsoft anno 2020 has shown itself as a completely different company than Microsoft anno 2010, or even 2013.
When his book was published in 2017, I bought it immediately. Although I really wanted to start reading, unfortunately couldn’t find time, so it laid on my desk, and was moved around as I changed office places in the building. Now, almost three and a half year after the release (and a new revision with a new afterword by Mr. Nadella), I finally have read his book, and the only bad thing about it, is that I didn’t read it earlier.
As I read about his background, his travel through different departments in Microsoft, and his first years as CEO, everything that I have been watching from the outside falls into place. It makes so much sense, and I can recognize the challenges and struggles looking back into my own workplaces. Every company is different, so everything won’t be applicable everywhere. But it is so inspiring to read how Mr. Nadella and his staff in Microsoft went through this journey, and I certainly will use what I find relevant (and that’s a lot!) in the future.
What impresses me most though, is Mr. Nadella’s human perspective. From what I read, he must have had a really great mother, at least he credits her many of the qualities that I believe is the root to his successful work. Of course, he is well shaped by his father as well, but most of all, I believe Mr. Nadellas experiences as a father and husband has made him become the leader and role model he has become. It seems like a Mission Impossible to combine the roles as a family father of three children, where one with severely challenges due to cerebral palsy. As a father of three healthy children, knowing how much time and effort they cost me, I can’t imagine what Mr. Nadella has been through. But compassion and empathy he has developed and realized with his leadership is amazing. Unfortunately I have not met him in person.
I truly recommend everyone to read and learn, as it initiates so much thinking and reflection. It has inspired and empowered me to achieve more. And I know perfectly well that the cultural changes Microsoft has went through, are part of a continuous ongoing process, so I’m really looking forward to Mr. Nadella’s next books. And maybe — one day — I will have the pleasure of meeting him my self, and learn to know him even better than through a book.
