Satya Nadella pens book on Microsoft's inside story, future tech challenges

It was about two years ago when he set out to tell the story of Microsoft's quest: Nadella

Satya Nadella
Satya Nadella with his book titled 'Hit Refresh'. Photo: @satyanadella (Twitter)
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Sep 08 2017 | 8:20 PM IST
Satya Nadella, one of the most celebrated Indians in the global tech sector, has penned the inside story of his journey of becoming the CEO of software giant Microsoft, offering rare insights into his personal and professional life.

The book, titled 'Hit Refresh' and co-authored by Greg Shaw and Jill Tracie Nichols, will go on sale globally on September 26. It also includes a foreword by Microsoft co- founder Bill Gates.

Nadella, in a blog on LinkedIn, said it was about two years ago when he set out to "tell the story of Microsoft's quest to rediscover its soul and imagine a better future for everyone".

The title draws inspiration from the digital world where the screen is refreshed by hitting the function 'F5' key.

"We believed hit refresh was the perfect metaphor for all three storylines of the book - my personal journey so far, the company's ongoing transformation, and the coming wave of technological and economic change," said Nadella.

Nadella, who took over the reins of Microsoft in February 2014 from Steve Ballmer, goes on to stress that the book is no "victory lap or a how-to manual" but a set of reflections, ideas and principles on transformation.

He hopes his book inspires people to discover more empathy in their own lives.

Drawing parallels with his personal life, Nadella recounted how his wife helped him learn the quality when their son was born with severe disabilities 21 years ago.

"It's (also) a quality that shapes our mission of empowerment at Microsoft and our quest to meet unmet and unarticulated needs of customers. And it's the quality that helps us as a society move forward in creating new opportunity for all," he wrote in the blog.

Nadella will donate all proceeds from the book to Microsoft Philanthropies.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Sep 08 2017 | 8:20 PM IST

Next Story