Bill Gates Spotlight (5) 2014 and Looking Beyond

Bill Gates

Gates said he will closely advise new Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella on the potential of a growing ecosystem of connected devices. He also indicated that Microsoft software will work more smoothly across devices than it does right now. 

“I am excited about how the cloud and new devices can help us communicate and collaborate in new ways,” Gates said on the site. “The OS won’t just be on one device and the information won’t just be files — it will be your history including being able to review memories of things like kids growing up. I was thrilled Satya asked me to pitch in to make sure Microsoft is ambitious with its innovation. Even in Office there is a lot more than can be done.” 

The answer is still a little vague, but it seems fairly clear that Gates will provide a stronger guiding hand as the company evolves its products for the mobile era.

Reference: What Bill Gates will do at Microsoft, in his own words.

The question isn't so much what Bill Gates will do - because he may not be entirely and exactly sure, at the moment - but how committed is he to helping Microsoft become a truly relevant, innovative company again.  

Since he stepped down as CEO more than a decade ago, Gates had become increasingly occupied with his Foundation.  In fact, just before announcing Satya Nadella as the new CEO, he reassured viewers, or at least tried to reassure them, that he'd remain full-time with his philanthropic efforts.  Yet, this is no part-time job that Gates gave himself at Microsoft.  

Besides being vague, for example, his stated agenda is positively staid.  Nothing suggestive of innovation, really.  It's like Tim Cook assuming the helm and promoting endless tweaks to the iPhone.  So besides commitment, Does Gates even have the technical capability and business ferocity that made Microsoft so beastly successful?

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think?

Ron Villejo, PhD