📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

Wait, What? Microsoft CEO Says Company Needs to Rediscover Its Soul. Huge changes are coming to Microsoft, says CEO Satya Nadella in a rambling manifesto -- but just what kinds of changes are anybody's guess.

By Geoff Weiss

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

As Microsoft enters its 15th fiscal year, CEO Satya Nadella blasted out a 3,100-word treatise to the company's entire workforce entitled "Bold Ambition & Our Core," laying out his vision for the tech dynasty's future.

While the rambling essay primarily consists of broad non-assertions and raises more questions than answers, Nadella did hint at a few key changes that might be afoot at Microsoft, including "fundamental cultural changes" that some have speculated may spell widespread layoffs.

We dug through the longwinded reflections to unearth five key takeaways from Nadella's manifesto:

Related: 3 Life Lessons From Steve Ballmer's Rousing Graduation Speech

1. July will be a pivotal month for Microsoft. On July 22, when the company announces its second-quarter earnings, Nadella will divulge more about "what we are doing in FY15 to focus on our core" as well as the "engineering and organization changes" the company's senior leadership team believes are necessary.

2. Focus on mobile and cloud. In a world where roughly 3 billion people are hooked on their Internet-connected devices, Nadella says it is Microsoft's responsibility to channel this proliferation of sensors, screens, devices and data "to create intelligent, personal experiences, while maintaining security and privacy."

At the core of the experiences that it wants to create, Microsoft must hone in on its roots as a purveyor of "productivity," Nadella says.

Related: Satya Nadella Proves Even Giants Can Pivot

3. Opportunities still abound on mobile. While Windows has fallen markedly behind mobile competitors like Apple and Google, Nadella insists "we're in the infant stages" of a mobile industry that incorrectly prizes devices rather than experiences. He believes that Microsoft still has room to flourish with "a variety of devices of all screen sizes" that particularly address "needs across work and life."

4. The importance of Xbox. "The single biggest digital life category, measured in both time and money spent, in a mobile-first world is gaming," he says. Though Xbox may not be a part of its core business, Nadella vows to "vigorously innovate and delight gamers" with new tech that pulls from its other ventures, including core graphics from Windows and speech recognition from Skype.

5. Huge changes are coming. But what kinds of changes, precisely, are anybody's guess. Nadella says that Microsoft must take action "to flatten the organization and develop leaner business processes." While he does throw out dreamy notions -- "Job responsibilities will evolve. New partnerships will be formed. Tired traditions will be questioned." -- all must ultimately be in service, he concludes, of obsessing over its customers and deriving personal meaning for all its employees.

Related: Microsoft Unveils Skype Translator

Geoff Weiss

Former Staff Writer

Geoff Weiss is a former staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

These Coworkers-Turned-Friends Started a Side Hustle on Amazon — Now It's a 'Full Hustle' Earning Over $20 Million a Year: 'Jump in With Both Feet'

Achal Patel and Russell Gong met at a large consulting firm and "bonded over a shared vision to create a mission-led company."

Business News

These Are the 10 Most Profitable Cities for Airbnb Hosts, According to a New Report

Here's where Airbnb property owners and hosts are making the most money.

Side Hustle

How to Turn Your Hobby Into a Successful Business

A hobby, interest or charity project can turn into a money-making business if you know the right steps to take.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Productivity

Want to Be More Productive? Here's How Google Executives Structure Their Schedules

These five tactics from inside Google will help you focus and protect your time.

Starting a Business

This Couple Turned Their Startup Into a $150 Million Food Delivery Company. Here's What They Did Early On to Make It Happen.

Selling only online to your customers has many perks. But the founders of Little Spoon want you to know four things if you want to see accelerated growth.