Microsoft, the $300 billion force in computers, and its board have recently chosen the third CEO in the company’s 38-year history—46-year old Indian-American engineer Satya Nadella.
Here’s three interesting facts about Microsoft’s newest boss starting with one fact that will make the Windy City happy:1) Nadella received his MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. Nadella didn’t get to the top of the corporate ladder without the knowhow he received while studying at one of the world’s top MBA institutions. In addition to his time at Booth, Über-educated Nadella also studied in India, earning a bachelor’s degree in electronics and communication engineering from Manipal University. He then earned a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, before earning his MBA.
2) And he’s not done learning either; Nadella takes online classes in his spare time. After accepting his position as CEO, Nadella described himself in a company wide email as a lifelong learner who buys more books and signs up for more online courses than he could ever complete.
3) Apparently, cricket has inspired the way he does business. “I think playing cricket for HPS (Hyderabad Public School) taught me more about working in teams and leadership that has stayed with me throughout my career,” Nadella said. ”There was this one particular incident in a match where my school captain noticed I was bowling some really ordinary stuff. He took over the next over himself, got our team the much-needed breakthrough and then threw the ball back to me in the next over! I will never forget that. What made him do that? Is this what they call leadership? These are the kind of questions I have since reflected on as I approach many of the things I do today leading teams.”