Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Interview Question: Satya Nadella recently shared his experience of becoming the CEO of Microsoft. While sharing his experience of becoming the CEO of his top tech company during an interview at the Berlin headquarters of Axel Springer, he told how a question during the interview had put him into deep thinking for some time.
Microsoft employee turned CEO
Satya Nadella, following the guidelines of company founder Bill Gates and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, paved the way for his journey from employee to CEO of Microsoft and led many projects in the company. Satya Nadella told in an interview that Steve Ballmer leaving the post of CEO of Microsoft Company was a shock for him. The reason for this was that he had no idea that one day Steve would leave the company to Ballmer.
Nadella was shocked after hearing the question
Satya Nadella told that after Steve Ballmer left the company, one day one of the board members asked him the question, ‘Do you want to become the CEO?’ (Do you want to be the CEO?). This question was unexpected for Nadella, hearing which he was shocked for some time. Describing his experience in the interview, he said that this question was going to change his life and he had never thought before that he would become the CEO of the company.
Who were involved in the race for Microsoft CEO?
Answering the board member’s question, Satya Nadella said that I will become CEO only when you want. This means that he will take charge of the company only when the board decides. After discussing among themselves, the board members decided to make him the new CEO of the company. Apart from Satya Nadella, three other people were also involved in the race for Microsoft CEO, which included the names of former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, Ford CEO Alan Mullally and former Skype President Tony Bates.
Steve Ballmer gave this advice to Satya Nadella
After leaving the CEO, Steve Ballmer advised Satya Nadella that whatever responsibility is being given to you, you should perform it as you are. Along with this, he also said that do not think ahead now and adjust to whatever is coming ahead or is going to come. After listening to these advices from his senior, Satya Nadella started his CEO journey in 2014, which is going well so far.