Hit Refresh

The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft’s Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone

By Satya Nadella

"Hit Refresh" recounts Satya Nadella's transformation from a cricket-loving youth in Hyderabad, India, to his role as CEO of Microsoft. This summary offers insights from cricket psychology to the lessons of parenthood, shedding light on the experiences that shape one of the most influential figures in tech.

About the author

Satya Nadella is an Indian-American business leader serving as Microsoft's CEO. Previously leading Microsoft’s cloud division, he earned degrees from top universities in India and the U.S., including an MBA from the University of Chicago. Outside the office, he is a passionate cricketer, husband, and father.

The Journey of Satya Nadella from Hyderabad to Microsoft

The term "globalization" often conjures images of impersonal economic forces, yet it's the individual stories that truly illustrate its impact. Satya Nadella's journey epitomizes this human side of globalization.

His biography is more than a success story of a boy from India dreaming of cricket who ascends to the pinnacle of Microsoft. It's a vivid depiction of a life that spans continents and cultures, capturing the essence of our interconnected world.

Yet, this narrative also offers an intimate look at Nadella's life. He often shares how his insights on leadership and business are drawn from personal experiences, from cricket matches to parenting a child with special needs.

In this summary we will, explore:

• What leaders can learn from cricketers;

• The pivotal role of empathy in leadership;

• How automation might reshape, but not eliminate, future jobs.

Satya Nadella's Path from Cricket Dreams to Tech Realities

Satya Nadella's childhood in Hyderabad, India, in 1967 was marked by a singular passion: cricket.

While his father, a civil servant, and his mother, a Sanskrit scholar, hoped to steer him towards academic and spiritual pursuits—even decorating his room with posters of Karl Marx and the Indian goddess of fortune—Nadella was drawn to the cricket field, idolizing local cricket legend ML Jaisimha.

Despite his parents' concerns about his cricket fixation, Nadella considered a future in banking if his sports dreams faltered. His father, however, had broader ambitions for him, prompting a pivotal conversation that shifted Nadella’s focus to technology. A forgotten Sinclair ZX Spectrum, a gift from his father, became his new obsession, leading him to pursue electrical engineering at the Manipal Institute of Technology, graduating in 1988.

Nadella's aspiration to play cricket professionally dwindled as he immersed himself in the world of tech at Manipal, inspired by entrepreneurial classmates.

After playing just one match for the college team, he retired his cricket gear, dedicating himself to a future in technology.