Microsoft exemplifies the power of living its values. Under Satya Nadella’s leadership, the company has transformed culturally and financially, driven by three core principles: Respect, Integrity and Accountability.
Respect is about valuing the thoughts, feelings and backgrounds of others. Integrity reflects honesty, ethics and trustworthiness. Accountability means taking full responsibility for decisions and outcomes. These are actively embedded into the organisation’s culture.
When Nadella took over, saying “Culture change means we will do things differently” he dismantled the current competitive, siloed environment by championing a growth mindset, encouraging curiosity, collaboration and continuous learning. This cultural shift allowed Microsoft to become a place where people thrive together.
Inclusivity has also been prioritised, and with significant investment in initiatives that bring respect and integrity to life, Microsoft’s actions reflect a commitment to creating an equitable workforce.
The company’s focus on innovation-driven leadership has been equally important. By aligning with long-term goals like cloud computing and AI, Microsoft has committed to substance over trendiness. Platforms such as Azure and partnerships with OpenAI are signs of a dedication to meaningful progress rather than superficial hype.
This alignment between values and purpose has delivered financial success. Under Nadella, Microsoft’s valuation exceeded $3 trillion, Azure became a core revenue driver, and AI investments solidified its position as a tech leader. These achievements are a direct result of values-led decision-making.
Microsoft also avoids the superficiality often seen in the tech industry. Its reputation is built on substance, not hype. The organisation prioritises delivering genuine value to customers and given team members autonomy, build trust and engagement throughout its ecosystem.
In Nadella’s Microsoft, respect, integrity and accountability have revitalised the company culturally and financially. It serves as a powerful reminder of what’s possible when values are not just words but a way of operating. Leaders would do well to ask themselves – what could we achieve by living our values with this kind of commitment?
Nadella’s summary of the depth of this work goes like this: “After all, our products may come and go, but our values are timeless.”