Microsoft boss Satya Nadella's views on the power of empathy and innovation

Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, is renowned for his transformative leadership since taking the helm of the big tech in 2014. Under his leadership, Microsoft has pivoted towards cloud computing and AI, achieving significant growth and innovation. Nadella's approach to business and leadership is known to emphasize empathy, inclusivity, and continuous learning, fostering a culture of creativity and adaptability. Nadella's has also positioned Microsoft at the forefront of technological advancement, shaping the future of AI and computing globally. On the advent of AI and Microsoft's own ambitions in artificial intelligence technology, Nadella has said, "We are not pursuing AI to beat humans at games; we are pursuing AI so we can empower every person and every institution that people build with tools of AI so that they can go on to solve the most pressing problems of our society and our economy."

Nadella has also said, "You renew yourself every day. Sometimes you're successful, sometimes you're not, but it's the average that counts."

Read his take on everything from the power of empathy to the importance of constant learning and innovation.

"It's important to reason from first principles rather than by analogy. The difference between the two is the difference between truly understanding and just being able to repeat what you've heard." - Nadella on empathy as a leadership skill.

"The one thing that I would say that defines me is I love to learn. I get excited about new things. I buy more books than I read or finish." - On valuing continuous learning and openness to new ideas.

"Longevity in this business is about being able to reinvent yourself or invent the future." - On focusing on the Long Term, encouraging organizations to focus on reinventing themselves and creating future-oriented strategies rather than short-term fixes.

"We are at our best when we actively engage with diversity in all its forms." - On inclusive leadership and encouraging diverse perspectives in decision-making as key drivers of innovation and success.

"The most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat people – your family, friends, and coworkers, and even strangers you meet along the way." - On valuing humility and continuous learning, emphasizing personal growth and the development of others.

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." - On driving innovation as a core leadership trait

"Our industry does not respect tradition – it only respects innovation." - On the importance of prioritizing customer needs and innovation to maintain relevance in a competitive market.

"The true scarce commodity in modern economies is attention." - On adaptability

"The most important attribute of a great leader is the ability to bring people along." - On leadership