From: Satya Nadella
To: All Employees
Date: Feb. 4, 2014
Subject: RE: Satya Nadella – Microsoft’s New CEO
Today is a very humbling day for me. It reminds me of my very first day at Microsoft, 22 years ago. Like you, I had a choice about where to come to work. I came here because I believed Microsoft was the best company in the world. I saw then how clearly we empower people to do magical things with our creations and ultimately make the world a better place. I knew there was no better company to join if I wanted to make a difference. This is the very same inspiration that continues to drive me today.
It is an incredible honor for me to lead and serve this great company of ours. Steve and Bill have taken it from an idea to one of the greatest and most universally admired companies in the world. I’ve been fortunate to work closely with both Bill and Steve in my different roles at Microsoft, and as I step in as CEO, I’ve asked Bill to devote additional time to the company, focused on technology and products. I’m also looking forward to working with John Thompson as our new Chairman of the Board.
While we have seen great success, we are hungry to do more. Our industry does not respect tradition — it only respects innovation. This is a critical time for the industry and for Microsoft. Make no mistake, we are headed for greater places — as technology evolves and we evolve with and ahead of it. Our job is to ensure that Microsoft thrives in a mobile and cloud-first world.
As we start a new phase of our journey together, I wanted to share some background on myself and what inspires and motivates me.
Who am I?
I am 46. I’ve been married for 22 years and we have 3 kids. And like anyone else, a lot of what I do and how I think has been shaped by my family and my overall life experiences. Many who know me say I am also defined by my curiosity and thirst for learning. I buy more books than I can finish. I sign up for more online courses than I can complete. I fundamentally believe that if you are not learning new things, you stop doing great and useful things. So family, curiosity and hunger for knowledge all define me.
Why am I here?
I am here for the same reason I think most people join Microsoft — to change the world through technology that empowers people to do amazing things. I know it can sound hyperbolic — and yet it’s true. We have done it, we’re doing it today, and we are the team that will do it again.
I believe over the next decade computing will become even more ubiquitous and intelligence will become ambient. The coevolution of software and new hardware form factors will intermediate and digitize — many of the things we do and experience in business, life and our world. This will be made possible by an ever-growing network of connected devices, incredible computing capacity from the cloud, insights from big data, and intelligence from machine learning.
This is a software-powered world.
It will better connect us to our friends and families and help us see, express, and share our world in ways never before possible. It will enable businesses to engage customers in more meaningful ways.
I am here because we have unparalleled capability to make an impact.
Why are we here?
In our early history, our mission was about the PC on every desk and home, a goal we have mostly achieved in the developed world. Today we’re focused on a broader range of devices. While the deal is not yet complete, we will welcome to our family Nokia devices and services and the new mobile capabilities they bring us.
As we look forward, we must zero in on what Microsoft can uniquely contribute to the world. The opportunity ahead will require us to reimagine a lot of what we have done in the past for a mobile and cloud-first world, and do new things.
We are the only ones who can harness the power of software and deliver it through devices and services that truly empower every individual and every organization. We are the only company with history and continued focus in building platforms and ecosystems that create broad opportunity.
Qi Lu captured it well in a recent meeting when he said that Microsoft uniquely empowers people to “do more.” This doesn’t mean that we need to do more things, but that the work we do empowers the world to do more of what they care about — get stuff done, have fun, communicate and accomplish great things. This is the core of who we are, and driving this core value in all that we do — be it the cloud or device experiences — is why we are here.
What do we do next?
To paraphrase a quote from Oscar Wilde — we need to believe in the impossible and remove the improbable.
This starts with clarity of purpose and sense of mission that will lead us to imagine the impossible and deliver it. We need to prioritize innovation that is centered on our core value of empowering users and organizations to “do more.” We have picked a set of high-value activities as part of our One Microsoft strategy. And with every service and device launch going forward we need to bring more innovation to bear around these scenarios.
Next, every one of us needs to do our best work, lead and help drive cultural change. We sometimes underestimate what we each can do to make things happen and overestimate what others need to do to move us forward. We must change this.
Finally, I truly believe that each of us must find meaning in our work. The best work happens when you know that it’s not just work, but something that will improve other people’s lives. This is the opportunity that drives each of us at this company.
Many companies aspire to change the world. But very few have all the elements required: talent, resources, and perseverance. Microsoft has proven that it has all three in abundance. And as the new CEO, I can’t ask for a better foundation.
Let’s build on this foundation together.
Satya Nadella's email to employees on first day as CEO of Microsoft
1. What are the three factors that Nadella lists as his formative influences?
In the letter introducing himself to the employees, Nadella says that he is 46 and has been married for 22 years. He has 3 kids and his ideology and thoughts have been shaped by his family and his overall life experiences. His acquaintances say that he is defined by his curiosity and thirst for learning. He buys more books than he could read and regularly signs up for several online courses to keep himself updated. He strongly believes that if we are not learning new things, we stop doing great and useful things. Hence family, curiosity and thirst for knowledge are the three factors that made Satya Nadella what he was.
2. What inspires Nadella?
In the letter introducing himself to the employees, Nadella says that he is 46 and has been married for 22 years. He has 3 kids and his ideology and thoughts have been shaped by his family and his overall life experiences. His acquaintances say that he is defined by his curiosity and thirst for learning. He buys more books than he could read and regularly signs up for several online courses to keep himself updated. He strongly believes that if we are not learning new things, we stop doing great and useful things. Hence family, curiosity and thirst for knowledge are the three factors that made Satya Nadella what he was.
3. Why did Nadella choose to work at Microsoft?
Nadella says that he, like most people, joined Microsoft to change the world through technology that empowers people to do amazing things. The Microsoft team proved it in the past and is continuing to do the same. He says that talent, resources and perseverance are the foundation on which a company attains great heights, and concludes by saying that Microsoft has all of this in plenty.
Nadella believes that Microsoft is uniquely situated to achieve its goal of being a tech leader in the coming decades as well, because it can harness the power of software as well as hardware, through its acquisition of Nokia.
Microsoft is the only company with the history and continued focus in building platforms and ecosystems that create broad opportunity.
4. Why did Nadella believe that Microsoft was the best company in the world?
Nadella says that he, like most people, joined Microsoft to change the world through technology that empowers people to do amazing things. The Microsoft team proved it in the past and is continuing to do the same. He says that talent, resources and perseverance are the foundation on which a company attains great heights, and concludes by saying that Microsoft has all of this in plenty.
Nadella believes that Microsoft is uniquely situated to achieve its goal of being a tech leader in the coming decades as well, because it can harness the power of software as well as hardware, through its acquisition of Nokia.
Microsoft is the only company with the history and continued focus in building platforms and ecosystems that create broad opportunity.
5. What did Nadella predict for the future of technology?
Nadella forecasts cloud computing, machine learning, insights from big data and increasingly ubiquitous technology with connected devices as the future, and says that Microsoft will have to evolve to keep pace with these emerging technologies and trends.
Microsoft’s goal in its early years was to have a PC in every home and on every desk. This goal has largely been achieved in the developed world. Today, the world has more or less moved away from PCs and instead favors Mobile and Clouds-Computing devices.
Nadella believes that going forward, Microsoft must focus on innovations which empower people to do more and improve their lives.
Nadella believes that Microsoft is uniquely situated to achieve its goal of being a tech leader in the coming decades as well, because it can harness the power of software as well as hardware, through its acquisition of Nokia.
6. In which direction is technology evolving, according to Nadella?
Nadella forecasts cloud computing, machine learning, insights from big data and increasingly ubiquitous technology with connected devices as the future, and says that Microsoft will have to evolve to keep pace with these emerging technologies and trends.
Microsoft’s goal in its early years was to have a PC in every home and on every desk. This goal has largely been achieved in the developed world. Today, the world has more or less moved away from PCs and instead favors Mobile and Clouds-Computing devices.
Nadella believes that going forward, Microsoft must focus on innovations which empower people to do more and improve their lives.
Nadella believes that Microsoft is uniquely situated to achieve its goal of being a tech leader in the coming decades as well, because it can harness the power of software as well as hardware, through its acquisition of Nokia.
7. How will evolving technology make an impact on the lives of common people? How can Microsoft contribute to this?
Nadella forecasts cloud computing, machine learning, insights from big data and increasingly ubiquitous technology with connected devices as the future, and says that Microsoft will have to evolve to keep pace with these emerging technologies and trends.
Microsoft’s goal in its early years was to have a PC in every home and on every desk. This goal has largely been achieved in the developed world. Today, the world has more or less moved away from PCs and instead favors Mobile and Clouds-Computing devices.
Nadella believes that going forward, Microsoft must focus on innovations which empower people to do more and improve their lives.
Nadella believes that Microsoft is uniquely situated to achieve its goal of being a tech leader in the coming decades as well, because it can harness the power of software as well as hardware, through its acquisition of Nokia.
8. What are the unique selling points of Microsoft, according to Nadella?
Nadella forecasts cloud computing, machine learning, insights from big data and increasingly ubiquitous technology with connected devices as the future, and says that Microsoft will have to evolve to keep pace with these emerging technologies and trends.
Microsoft’s goal in its early years was to have a PC in every home and on every desk. This goal has largely been achieved in the developed world. Today, the world has more or less moved away from PCs and instead favors Mobile and Clouds-Computing devices.
Nadella believes that going forward, Microsoft must focus on innovations which empower people to do more and improve their lives.
Nadella believes that Microsoft is uniquely situated to achieve its goal of being a tech leader in the coming decades as well, because it can harness the power of software as well as hardware, through its acquisition of Nokia.
9. How does Nadella try to motivate his employees in his letter?
Nadella believes that Microsoft is a great place to work in because it believes in empowering its employees to innovate.
Nadella says that employees commonly underestimate their role in a company, and overestimate the role of others. He says that each employee must work towards innovating technology which will make people’s lives better and easier, and this way, they can also find meaning and joy in their work.
10. What will help employees find meaning in their work?
Nadella believes that Microsoft is a great place to work in because it believes in empowering its employees to innovate.
Nadella says that employees commonly underestimate their role in a company, and overestimate the role of others. He says that each employee must work towards innovating technology which will make people’s lives better and easier, and this way, they can also find meaning and joy in their work.
11. What is Nadella’s strategy for Microsoft as it steps into the new decade?
This is a critical time for the industry and for Microsoft. Nadella wants Microsoft to gear up for the increasing competition and prove itself as a strong rival to its competitors like it was a decade back.
Nadella emphasises on the need to priorotise innovation that helps to empower users and organisations to ‘do more’. This starts with clarity of purpose and sense of mission that lead to imagine the impossible and deliver it. All the employees need to do their best work, lead and help drive cultural change. Each of the employees should find meaning in his work.
The Microsoft team proved it in the past and must continue to do the same. He says that talent, resources and perseverance are the foundation on which a company attains great heights, and concludes by saying that Microsoft has all of this in plenty.
Nadella emphasised that with every new device or new service launch in the future, Microsoft should bring about more and more innovation. He envisioned a bright future for Microsoft.
12. Briefly describe Nadella’s thoughts on innovation and its importance.
This is a critical time for the industry and for Microsoft. Nadella wants Microsoft to gear up for the increasing competition and prove itself as a strong rival to its competitors like it was a decade back.
Nadella emphasises on the need to priorotise innovation that helps to empower users and organisations to ‘do more’. This starts with clarity of purpose and sense of mission that lead to imagine the impossible and deliver it. All the employees need to do their best work, lead and help drive cultural change. Each of the employees should find meaning in his work.
The Microsoft team proved it in the past and must continue to do the same. He says that talent, resources and perseverance are the foundation on which a company attains great heights, and concludes by saying that Microsoft has all of this in plenty.
Nadella emphasised that with every new device or new service launch in the future, Microsoft should bring about more and more innovation. He envisioned a bright future for Microsoft.
13. What philosophy is at the heart of Nadella’s vision for Microsoft?
This is a critical time for the industry and for Microsoft. Nadella wants Microsoft to gear up for the increasing competition and prove itself as a strong rival to its competitors like it was a decade back.
Nadella emphasises on the need to priorotise innovation that helps to empower users and organisations to ‘do more’. This starts with clarity of purpose and sense of mission that lead to imagine the impossible and deliver it. All the employees need to do their best work, lead and help drive cultural change. Each of the employees should find meaning in his work.
The Microsoft team proved it in the past and must continue to do the same. He says that talent, resources and perseverance are the foundation on which a company attains great heights, and concludes by saying that Microsoft has all of this in plenty.
Nadella emphasised that with every new device or new service launch in the future, Microsoft should bring about more and more innovation. He envisioned a bright future for Microsoft.
Satya Nadella's email to employees on the first day as CEO of Microsoft
Exercises
Homophones on page 32
1. hare
2. son
3. harsh
4. weak
5. stare
6. quay
7. piece
8. tow
Homographs on page 33
1. minute
2. wind
3. incense
4. object
5. row
6. advocate
Homonyms on page 34
1. gross
2. lying
3. arms
4. stress
5. rose
6. key
7. stand
8. shade
Synonyms on page 35
1. rarely
2. dangerous/risky
3. urgent
5. desire for
6. cruel
7. clear
8. become less intense
9. compulsory
10. very careful
Satya Nadella's email to employees on the first day as CEO of Microsoft
