Microsoft’s CEO calls two CEOs a day and asks these questions

Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, one of the largest companies in the world, makes it a daily priority to check in with his network, as reported by The Information.

The 57-year-old often directs his team to schedule these calls with key figures, ranging from executives like Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas to prominent leaders such as former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll.

During these conversations, Mr Nadella focuses on two pivotal questions that help him strengthen his network. The first question he asks is: “What new startups are you excited about?” This inquiry aligns with Microsoft’s proactive approach to investing in innovative ideas. Under his leadership, Microsoft made notable investments, including its investment in ChatGPT creator OpenAI in 2023.

Beyond OpenAI, Microsoft has invested in other ventures, such as humanoid-robotics startup Figure, where Mr Nadella managed to persuade the company to use Microsoft Azure for AI infrastructure, according to Reuters. Additionally, Microsoft’s venture arm poured €23.5 million into database tech startup Neon earlier this year. These investments reflect his openness to fresh ideas, a hallmark of his leadership since taking the helm in 2014.

Mr Nadella, who took over at a time when Microsoft was struggling, has often credited partnerships and collaboration for much of the company’s turnaround. “Sometimes partnerships are the only way to get ahead,” he explained in a May interview with Stratechery, referring to Microsoft’s collaboration with OpenAI.

His second question focuses on expanding his personal connections: “What new people have you met that would be good to know?” This keeps him attuned to key industry players and developments that could be beneficial for Microsoft.

Under Mr Nadella’s leadership, this networking strategy has paid off in major ways. Microsoft has secured several high-profile acquisitions, such as its 2016 purchase of LinkedIn for €24 billion and its €6.8 billion acquisition of GitHub in 2018. These deals highlight Mr Nadella’s belief in the value of staying connected and fostering partnerships.