Bill Gates podcast with Nikhil Kamath: India’s ‘contribution’ to Microsoft’s success, CEO Satya Nadella and more

In a podcast with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates recalls his early relationship with, sharing his thoughts on India’s tech talent, and discussing India’s strengths and challenges. Gates reflected on his long-standing relationship with India and the country’s significant contributions to Microsoft’s success.
“I’ve had a fabulous relationship with India starting with the Microsoft experience where we hired some very smart IT graduates, and brought them to Seattle,” Gates said.

Gates on India’s contribution to Microsoft’s success

Gates emphasized the significant impact of the Indian workforce on Microsoft’s achievements, stating, “Of course, a lot of the amazing people I worked with in Microsoft were hired from India.” He recalled how these talented individuals later returned to India and established development centers for Microsoft, which now employ around 25,000 people across four locations.
Microsoft co-founder specifically praised Satya Nadella, saying, “On the top of that list is Satya, who now is doing a great job as the CEO. In my first digital career, the connection with India was fun and made a huge difference in what the company was able to achieve.”

Bill Gates on India’s strengths and challenges

During the podcast, Gates also touched upon the stark contrasts in India, acknowledging the country’s strengths while recognizing the challenges of poverty and other issues. He noted, “It was during that time that I was kind of learning, “Oh wow, India is such a study in contrast, first class in so many ways, but still a lot of poverty and challenges.”
Gates further delved into the differences between the legal systems in India and the United States. He pointed out that legal practices in the US might not be directly applicable in India. However, he envisioned the potential for technology to significantly enhance productivity in the legal system, which could lead to improved access to justice by addressing the current backlog of cases.