Success Saga of Satya.
Creme de la creme
This was the list of final shortlist sieved and selected from lakhs of Managerial stalwarts to select for the post of CEO, Microsoft.Microsoft was founded 39 years ago. Only the cofounder of Microsoft Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer served as the Heads of Microsoft.
But in recent years the company has looked troubled as rivals Apple, Google and Facebook with their innovations, online services and social media made deep in roads in to the public. This necessitated Microsoft to launch a big “CEO Hunt” to enable Bill gates assume a new role on Microsoft’s Board.
The search starts.
A search for the Monarch eligible to sit on the throne of the tech giant’s Microsoft lasted for 5 months. Lakhs of eligible candidates were screened and reduced to thousands. Then the thousands were reduced to Hundreds. Hundreds in to 6. All of them are gems in their own right. They are some of the most world’s most famous executives.
If you see the list above closely, you will not be convinced of Satya’s qualifications. Because Satya is the least qualified and appears like a midget before the Managerial crème de la crème.
Why Microsoft preferred Satya.
Satya was born in India in 1967, in Bukkapuram, Anantapur district ,Andhra Pradesh. Satya's full name is Nadella Satyanarayana Chodhury. He studied Electrical Engineering at the Manipal Institute of Technology before moving to the US to study computer science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Thereafter he studied MBA in Chicago University.
He has joined Microsoft in the year in 1992. In the same year he married to Anupama.
Before joining Microsoft, Satya worked at Sun Micro systems.After a brief stint at Sun Micro systems, he joined the research work for Microsoft’s online services division at Redmond.Satya worked in different capacities in the Microsoft. Besides working in the company’s business division, he gained experience in building the Bing Search engine
The most important work of Satya was transformation of Microsoft’s cloud business. Earlier to this, Satya developed its server and tools business. This made a big difference in boosting the division’s profitability. Besides this, the passage from traditional client-server computing to cloud infrastructure Windows Azure made smooth. Presently Satya has been focusing on pushing the basic infrastructure of Microsoft’s cloud business which includes the products like Bing,SkyDrive,Xbox Live and Skype. Of course Satya is not very conversant with consumer- facing businesses.
Consumer- facing business include Xbox and Skype. Still, Satya is very proficient in understanding and the required knowledge in the sphere of computing and and engineering essential and build services and applications that are widely used by Millions.
With this acumen of his, Satya was able to build a reputation that he is the best suitable candidate when it comes to steering the company in one particular direction.
What’s inside Satya?
After seeing the galore of qualities that took the Microsoft in to a new direction in Satya, let’s peep in to his psyche. Let’s see his inner traits that made him so unique and head and shoulders above the rest.
Open Hands.
If one observes Satya while talking, one can see his hands always remaining open. The movements of his hands are in tune with what he is saying. He often makes a mudra called ‘Chin Mudra’ by joining his thumb and index finger. This, psychologists say is an indication of his openness and immense confidence. He looks like a standing example of the famous quote of Oscar Wilde.
“We need to believe in the impossible and remove the improbable.”
Satya stands erect and in stable condition with very less movements. While sitting he is in the cross legged stance. This too indicates about his strength and stability of his attitude.The feature that attracts in Satya is his clarity of expression. His words and the stresses he employs speaks of his stability in his thoughts. There won’t be any searching or fumbling for the words. And he carefully chooses his words. While trying to impress a certain key message, he uses stress in different ways so that his message directly reaches the person who is hearing. He maintains high pitch while talking. He always talks more about the organization’s objectives completely avoiding a talk about him. These traits hold mirror to Satya’s visionary trait. This also speaks of a person who enjoys his work and whatever that person does sees to it that the job he undertakes is almost perfect.
Passion for excellence.
Every aspect Of Satya, be it a delivery of a lecture or casual chitchat no one can miss his gestures through his body language. All these traits reflect his attitude. After he was selected for the coveted CEO post in Microsoft, the mails he sent to the Microsoft employees hold mirror to his firm belief in fundamentals and rudiments of values and the strength in him that led him to the elevated positions in life. His frequent usage of the words like ‘innovation’ ,’core’, ‘Do more’, speaks in no uncertain terms about his strong will.
Core values and firm beliefs are his strength.
He firmly believes that a job is not just meant for earninga salary. It’s meant to bring positive changes in the people. And this strength is there in every one of us. Which is why he brings all of them under a single roof and makes them as the partners in his endeavors to bring a change in the lives of the people.
He rarely uses the word ‘I’. He always takes care to use ‘Our’ in his conversations and speeches. He proudly announces that he is always on the lookout for learning new things.
He says, “If we stop learning new things, we cannot discover new things.”
Vision is greater than objectives.
If vision is greater than objectives, merging individual vision with the organization’s vision is still greater. His sticking to Microsoft for a prolonged period of 22 years speaks volumes about his commitment. This reflects his love for the organization. And this also speaks how he has merged his vision and objectives with that of the organization’s vision and objectives.
All these traits of Satya were noticed and recognized by the Board of directors of Microsoft and handed over the dream post of CEO, Microsoft in a gold platter.
Satya advises the youth to Make Thirst for knowledge as an integral part of their attitude.
The moment one stops learning, his downfall starts. Satya’s belief in learning has landed him from the Begumpet public school, Hyderabad in to Silicon valley. He was never a brightest of all the students.May be a step above a first class student. He's neither an IIT product nor an IIM degree holder. He studied in Manipal institute of technology, Karnataka . Very less number of students and professors remember him.
This points to the fact an ordinary student can reach extraordinary heights of glory with mere hard work and perseverance.
Personification of Perseverance.
When Satya joined Microsoft, he was studying for MBA in Chicago university . He was not willing to leave the job for pursuing his MBA. At the same time, he was unwilling to leave the education too.
He found a solution.
Satya had a special liking towards Bill Gates. So he devised a plan that enabled him to retain both his job at Redmond and studies in Chicago. He leaves on Friday night for Chicago and joins Back his office work on Monday at Redmond.
This Went on for two and half years. Satya with his untiring single minded dedication completed his MBA course while doing his job.
Satya, a Role model to youth.
Even now, the same dedication, same determination and the same Devotion can be seen in Satya. Elevation to exalted positions never made him ignore his basic traits and qualities.
Aspiring youth can take a leaf out of Satya's life.
It's your work counts.You may be working in a reputed organization. But at the end of the day what all finally counts is your own hard work that takes you to exalted peaks of glory
Faithful to the conscience .
When Satya completed his engineering, there was no IT boom in India. Even IIT and IIM graduates were queuing up for Civil Services. Most of them were of the intention to roam around the world after passing IFS or enjoy the perks and prestige after completing IAS or IPS. Their only aim is to settle in some job setting aside their life goals.In fact, Satya's father was an IAS officer. Most of Satya's friends were also the sons of either an IAS or an IPS or an IFS.
But, Satya stuck to his ambition of studying for an IT course and work under his idol Bill Gates. He followed the diktats of his conscience.
Knowing what one needs and following one's passion is the character that binds all the winners of the world together.
Satya has shown the way how by following his passion he reached the unprecedented heights of glory.
Confidence on Microsoft .
Satya is well aware of the work culture in the Microsoft. He's also aware of Bill Gates' philosophy of giving highest honor to Merit.
Committed to the core.
In the IT circles, many employees will not stick to their jobs for more than two years. The moment they get a job with a better payment and perks, they switch over to other jobs. But in the case of Satya, it was entirely different. During his early days of Microsoft, many lucrative offers came to him. But he believed in sticking to Microsoft mainly due to the able administration of Bill Gates whom he has treated and continues to treat as his guide, philosopher and Mentor. He has come to a firm decision that his growth and development lie with Microsoft only.
His commitment and faith in the leadership of the organization has paid him rich dividends. From an ordinary employee of Microsoft , he rose to the exalted and covetous position of CEO Microsoft.
Satya adores work.
Satya not only adores and loves his work, but also believes that whatever he learned should be passed on to the society and world and leave an impact in some form other. He says one must not treat work as mere work and drudgery, rather it should be treated as a great deed that influences and brings a change in the world. Its only then there will be purpose for the life.
Once, the then CEO Steve Balmer phoned Satya and asked him to meet him in the office. Satya straight away said that he was busy with an important job and hung up. He firmly believes that through Technology also its possible to bring a change in the society. But thinks that every organization cannot do this but for a few organizations like giants like Microsoft. And he continues saying that it’s one of the reasons for staying with Microsoft.
It goes without saying that his beliefs never failed him.
Human Relations.
Satya was well known for his friendly and amicable behavior, right from the days of his Begumpet Public school to Microsoft days. Never you see Satya without a smile on his face. With a mere first introduction ,Satya becomes your pal. He loves to interact with others and exchange views analytically. The human angle in Satya has become a predominant feature that made him remembered by one and all.
Yugandhar, Satya’s father was an IAS who rendered services in the central government. Satya has inherited discipline, commitment from his father. Anupama, Satya’s wife too has come from a respectable and highly educated family. Her father Venugopal too was an IAS officer known for his integrity and discipline. Because of these ideal family conditions Satya could mould himself in to an ideal man. Both the families did not show their pomp and splendor in performing the marriage of Satya and Anupama. The marriage was a simple affair. They did not invite even the then P.M P.V Narasimha rao for the marriage of Satya and Anupama marriage.
“I’m influenced by my family environs” , admits Satya.
Love in the air all the time.
'Satya is a born leader', Silverberg, a colleague of Satya says, he loves his Microsoft colleagues like he loves his own family members. He has the potentiality for integrating hundred thoughts and to make the people work as one big force. Satya always thinks that his colleagues also should prosper like him. Silverberg adds that a mere talk of 10 minutes with Satya will energize and rejuvenate the other person. And that’s the charisma of Satya.
Influence Of two persons on Satya.
Satya says that of all the people, two people made a big impact on him. They are Bill Gates and Steven Balmer. Satya adds that both talk less. Both talk endearingly. They moulded me and sculpted me in all respects. Many of the employees say, Satya is another Bill Gates.
In this context, Satya recalls a past incident that happened in the initial days of Microsoft. One day, Satya received a mail from Bill Gates about a project taken up by Satya. The highly elated and overjoyed Satya thought for a full day, how to reply Bill Gates.
A simpleton Satya.
Until very recent times, even his neighbors in Hyderabad were not aware of his position in Microsoft. They were of the impression that Saya is just another Indian employed in Microsoft. Satya never believed in using the name of Microsoft in enhancing his influence or for boosting his personal brand image.
He attends very few external functions or gatherings.He keeps himself at bay from Twitter and Face book. He has an immense liking for reading books. His personal library contains more books on Literature than Technology. He is a staunch lover of poetry. He thinks that Poetry is such literary aspect that it is capable of encompassing the content of more than 100 words in just one sentence.
In Satya’s view Poetry is a coded language.
Whenever Satya is on a tour, the first job he does is ‘Book Hunting.’ He is gifted with the boon of eloquent speaking in a precise and poetic way. He uses liberally famous quotes of Famous writers frequently. This is evident in his first letter addressed to the employees of Microsoft after taking charge as the CEO.
He quoted the famous saying of Oscar Wilde in the letter.
“ We need to believe in the impossible
And remove the improbable.”
Satya is a great fan of Beetles. And he loves cricket. He used to play lot of cricket when he was a student of Hyderabad Public School.
During his Public school days in Hyderabad, Satya tasted the rudiments of leadership. During a cricket match, he was unable to take a single wicket. Seeing this condition, the skipper of his team took the ball from Satya and took some wickets. After that, Satya was given the ball for bowling. Satya says that it’s the quality of a real leader to lead from the front.
Give wings to your thoughts.
Satya doesn’t believe in confining the thoughts to the four walls of the home. He addresses his executives to peep through the external world beyond the confines of the four walled home. He reminds them one should feel the pulse of the youth and read their thoughts. Satya shows a keen interest to meet and exchange views of the young entrepreneurs.
He avoids “I” and substitutes with “We”. He has used the word “Our” 36 times.in the mail sent to his employees after taking charge as CEO.
What can be a better touch stone of a CEO, who is going to head one of the giant firms in the world that unravels his inherent traits?
Other Indian Luminaries shining in the vast sky of Multinational corporations.
Satya’s elevation to the highest rank in the Multinational corporate world is not the first incident. Prior to this, Many Indians are shining with brilliance in different multinational corporations. These luminaries are announcing loudly about their brilliant managerial potentialities and making every one of us proud.
This phenomenal success did not happen overnight. They toiled and shed their sweat to prove what the Indian caliber is. They established the fact that Indians are in no way less than anyone from any other country. Engineering, programming, schools in every sphere Indians proved their mettle.
Here are some luminaries who made Indians proud.
- Indra Nooyi,CEO, Pepsico
- Annu Jain, co CEO, Deutsche Bank.
- Ajay Banga, CEO, Mastercard an American organization for financial services.
- Ajit Jain, CEO, Berkshire hath a way, a reinsurance business organization.
- Peeush Gupta, CEO, DBS group holdings, a top financial services organization.
- Santanu Narayan, CEO, Adobe systems, a multinational computer software organization.
- Harish Munwani, CEO, Uni lever, international utility manufacturing organization.
- Prem Vatsa, CEO, Fairfax financial holdings, a renowned financial services organization.
- Padmasri Warior, Chief technology officer, CISCO systems.
Sky is no more a limit.
The success stories of all the achievers speak in clear terms that there is no substitute for work. One who erases the limitations which are nothing but our own creations born out of fear of failure will never look back. He develops an uncanny knack of converting stumbling blocks in to stepping stones for success.
What all one needs is a positive attitude and a strong will to shoot ahead.
Satya who was neither from prestigious educational institutions like IITs or IIMs and who started his life from the lowest rung of the ladder reached the most envious and coveted place in an international firm like Microsoft.
For Satya or Indra Nooyi the only success sutra that took them to the pinnacle of success is ,
“ We need to believe in the impossible
And remove the improbable.”
Some famous sayings of Satya
The wheel of technology is like Life cycle. Smaller people become bigger and the bigger will go in to oblivion.
If you stop learning, it implies that you stopped learning new things.
Over the next ten years, we are going to see digitization of our lives. I'm proud to be a part of this revolution.
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