Hit Refresh

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

By: Satya Nadella, Greg Shaw, Bill Gates - foreword

Narrated by: Shridhar Solanki, Satya Nadella

Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Foreword by Bill Gates

Microsoft's CEO tells the inside story of the company's continuing transformation, tracing his own personal journey from a childhood in India to leading some of the most significant technological changes in the digital era. As much a humanist as an engineer and executive, Nadella concludes with his vision for the coming wave of intelligent technologies and a distinct call to action for leaders everywhere.

Hit Refresh is about individual change, about the transformation happening inside of Microsoft and the technology that will soon impact all of our lives - the arrival of the most exciting and disruptive wave of technology humankind has experienced: artificial intelligence, mixed reality, and quantum computing.

It's about how people, organizations, and societies can and must transform "hit refresh" in their persistent quest for new energy, new ideas, and continued relevance and renewal. At its core, it's about us humans and how our one unique quality - empathy - will become ever more valuable in a world where technological advancement will disrupt the status quo as never before.

Satya Nadella explores a fascinating childhood before immigrating to the US and how he learned to lead along the way. He then shares his meditations as sitting CEO - one who is mostly unknown following the brainy Bill Gates and energetic Steve Ballmer. He tells the inside story of how a company rediscovered its soul - transforming everything from culture to their fiercely competitive landscape and industry partnerships. Nadella concludes with his vision for the coming wave of technology and by exploring the potential impact to society and delivering a call to action for world leaders.

"Ideas excite me," Nadella explains. "Empathy grounds and centers me." Hit Refresh is a reflection, meditations, and series of recommendations presented as algorithms from a principled, deliberative leader searching for improvement - for himself, for a storied company, and for society.

©2017 Satya Nadella; foreword copyright 2017 Bill Gates (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Refreshing for a former Microsoft employee

As a former Microsoft employee became disenchanted with the Balmer era closed mindedness, this book is a refreshing look into the mind of Microsoft new leader.

For anyone interested in understanding the opportunity in the global technology sector and the enablement through cloud services this book is a must read.

Nice reading... until it starts to promote Microsoft’s tech

I loved the parts where Satya explains how he shift MICROSOFT’s image within technology industry and his peers.

I also enjoyed when he explained how much of this shift has to do with his culture and how the difference of cultures helped him to understand mutual interests and find a common sense with empathy.

The book starts to te a little boring when he starts to promote MICROSOFT technology and the improvements made on his tenure.

It doesn’t compromise the book. It is still a good investment of time and a pleasant reading though. As a former employee, it got me thinking how different company MICROSOFT might be right now.

Surprisingly good for my insomnia.

I really expected more from Satya in this book. I think it needed a lot more insight into the real changes he’s driving at Microsoft and how he intends to lead MS into the coming decades.

Excellent read

Great book. easy read and very relevant and powerful logical content. a real teaching experience.

Clear vision for the future

A bit of propaganda, but worth listening through for the bigger vision of the future.

the new MS

narration was clear. i like that the author had read some parts of the book.

Great insight into Microsoft

Enjoyed the inside look at some big decisions about mobile, software etc. Was also interesting to see the values and culture the new CEO espouses

must read

fantastic read. definitely a refreshing book. highly recommend this to anyone. I enjoyed the story and passion.

More politics than Innovation.

I would have liked more details on the change in culture of the business and less of the political beliefs and childhood memories.

Very insightful

I was very impressed by Satya story from India to the top job at Microsoft. His perspective changes the narrative that we’re accustomed to hearing about the American Dream as his experience and the global footprint at Microsoft leads this story to transform Into a global citizen’s dream. Really enjoyed the futuristic vision and the pragmatic approach to achieving it. I would recommend this to anyone passionate about technology and its impact on our daily lives! Great listen 😉