Bill Gates: Transitioning into the Future

Posted By: Charles | Jun 23rd, 2008 @ 8:58 AM | 127,956 Views | 27 Comments
Bill Gates has been at the helm of Microsoft for the entire existence of Microsoft. It's the only place he's worked and he's getting ready to step down from his day to day responsibilities in his office on the Redmond campus. Bill's employment future will be centered around running his philanthropic enterprise, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Bill is fundamentally shifting his focus from achieving his dream of "a PC in every home" to helping realize the vision of "healthy people in every country". He talks about how each one of us can help make this dream come true by donation of time, expertise and, of course, money.

Charles caught up with Bill to discuss his transition from full time at Microsoft to full time at his global philanthropic foundation (he will still be involved with major decisions given that he will retain his post as the Chairman of Microsoft and his email address will still be functional Smiley).

Questions addressed in this conversation include: What's on Bill's mind as he prepares to step away from his full time responsibilities at Microsoft? What was his rationale for making the decision? What was behind his decision to put Ray Ozzie in the role of Microsoft Chief Software Architect? What does a CSA actually do? Why is Microsoft so focused on competing with Google and is search as important as we think? What's top of mind for Bill that Developers who target our platform should pay attention to now and in the next decade? How can Microsoft become more agile given the complexity that arises from so much asynchronous innovation spanning disparate product units? Why does Windows still matter in an Internet world?

Enjoy. This is a good one. Thank you again, Bill, for your support of C9 over the years, the incredible innovation you brought to market and the incredible generosity of your foundation.
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#Jun 23rd, 2008 @ 7:43 PM
Sampy
Sampy
This will be the sixth time we have destroyed it and we have become exceedingly efficient at it
Actually I talked to Charles and he told me it was [beep].

I checked it out on an internal site (http://[beep]) and I think I can say that [beep] is totally [beep]ing awesome Tongue Out
#Jun 23rd, 2008 @ 9:01 PM
Sven Groot
Sven Groot
My name has 9 letters. Coincidence? I think not...
Yeah, that's annoying. Anyway to hide them?

At least keep them separate from the regular comments.
#Jun 23rd, 2008 @ 10:06 PM
littleguru
littleguru
<3 Seattle

Charles, you guys should use cams with progressive scan the next time. The interview is great (actually, it is really cool) but the quality isn't because you can see the artifacts of the interleaced scan cameras (when you or Bill moves fast, you can see that only half of the lines are updated)...

#Jun 24th, 2008 @ 1:57 AM
aL_
aL_
Rx ftw
guru speaks the truth..

and also, please dont hard encode those black borders Smiley they really get in the way on 16:9 displays :/
Great interview as always though Smiley
#Jun 24th, 2008 @ 4:12 AM
Bas
Bas
It finds lightbulbs.

Why must you taunt us, Sampy!

#Jun 24th, 2008 @ 5:24 AM
wisemx
wisemx
Live it
This is an excellent conversation.
I've always admired how humble and calm Bill remains.
Compare this video to any with a certain guy by the name of Larry. Smiley 
#Jun 24th, 2008 @ 5:35 AM
BlackTiger
BlackTiger
If you stumbled and fell down, it doesn't mean yet, that you're going in the wrong direction.
Next 15 years everybody will speak about BG's resignation, interviewing him etc...
 
Why there was no "funny video" about BG's "last day at MS"?... Strange...
 
PS: Yep, I'm bloody bst*rd, but that stupid video is really annoying...

#Jun 24th, 2008 @ 8:14 AM
Ben Hayat
Ben Hayat
Charles, you do a great interview, not only this one, but any you do. And the secret to your great interview is that, all your questions are all "Realistic" questions. It's almost like you read my mind with your next question. Secondly, you're always respectful and none harassing to others. There is no tensions in your sessions and you always respond with positive response.  I just wanted to tell you, that, you do a great job...

Thanks!
..Ben
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