Back in 2014, one of the biggest transformations in modern business history kicked off at Microsoft when Satya Nadella took over the reins as CEO from Steve Balmer. Today, Satya is largely credited with changing the business of Microsoft from a traditional software company into a cloud-first, mobile-first powerhouse—with a current market cap of more than $3.6 trillion.

In this episode, Tom Athenour sits down with Takuya Hirano, the former president and CEO of Microsoft Japan. Takuya was a member of the executive team and had a front-row seat to how Nadella and the executive team reshaped Microsoft's vision, culture and strategy.

Takuya left Microsoft in 2023 after 17 years, and today he is on several boards including Fujitsu, and is also an executive advisor to KKR & Co. and Honda Motor Company. He is also the co-founder of Three Fields Advisors, a consulting firm that helps businesses scale internationally by providing expert advice on market expansion, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), partnerships, and market analysis.

Following are several takeaways from our conversation.

• Microsoft's transformation was driven by a new worldview.
• True organizational transformation requires a shift in organizational culture.
• Courage and self-awareness are crucial for leaders to execute on a culture change.
• Operationalizing culture change is essential for success.
• Revenue models must adapt during transformation.
• Defining success goes beyond traditional metrics.
• Engaging with customers is key to business strategy.
• Leaders must embrace continuous learning and curiosity.
• Cultural change can be intentional and achievable.

Contact Information:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/takuya-hirano/

Three Fields Advisors: https://www.threefieldsadvisors.com/

Podcast Sponsor: www.starquestgroup.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/starquest-group/?viewAsMember=true

Tom Athenour: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomathenour/