Microsoft@50: Steve Ballmer on what worked, what didn’t, and what he still believes in
GeekWire
GeekWire
4.4 • 116 Ratings
🗓️ 26 March 2025
⏱️ 34 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
On this special episode of the GeekWire Podcast, as part of our Microsoft@50 special series, former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer reflects on his remarkable tenure at the company he helped shape for more than three decades.
We talk about his early days working alongside Bill Gates and Paul Allen, the biggest mistake during his tenure, and his take on the company these days as its largest shareholder. He also opens up about his post-Microsoft pursuits — from his data-driven mission with USAFacts to transforming the NBA fan experience with the L.A. Clippers. And we hear his message for his former Microsoft colleagues.
Ballmer's conversation with GeekWire's Todd Bishop was recorded live in front of an audience at GeekWire's Microsoft@50 event at Town Hall Seattle, March 20, 2025.
Microsoft@50 is an independent GeekWire editorial project supported by Accenture.
More in GeekWire’s Microsoft@50 series
- AI Dreams: Microsoft@50, Chapter 1
- Microsoft President Brad Smith on AI, global turmoil, and key issues facing the tech giant at 50
- Microsoft’s startup story: How the company became a tech giant, and what we can learn from it today
- A new era for Windows: Can Microsoft’s longtime engine power another tech revolution?
- ‘The Road Ahead’ at 30: What Bill Gates’ classic book about the future says about the world today
- Bill Gates on Microsoft at 50, and what’s next for AI and innovation
More: Microsoft@50
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to Geekwire. I'm Geekwire co-founder Todd Bishop. Coming up on this special episode, |
| 0:05.3 | as part of our Microsoft at 50 series, former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer reflects on his remarkable tenure at the company that he helped to shape for more than three decades. |
| 0:16.6 | We talk about his early days working alongside Bill Gates and Paul Allen. |
| 0:21.6 | To this day, Bill's the smartest guy I've ever known. |
| 0:24.6 | And without Paul's genius, without Paul's push, without Paul's insight, there's no Microsoft. |
| 0:30.6 | Just not a chance. |
| 0:32.6 | The biggest mistake during his tenure. |
| 0:35.6 | I would have stopped the project that was Cairo three or four years earlier. |
| 0:41.3 | I take that as my biggest mistake. |
| 0:43.3 | I thought you were going to say Yahoo. |
| 0:44.3 | No, I mean, what was wrong with Yahoo? |
| 0:46.3 | If we bought it, we would have made a lot of money. |
| 0:49.3 | And if we didn't buy it, we saved a lot of money. |
| 0:52.3 | And his take on the company these days as its largest shareholder. |
| 0:56.4 | I'm a fan for spending. |
| 0:58.2 | I'm about the only shareholder who tells him, hey, why aren't you spending more? |
| 1:01.7 | He also opens up about his post-Microsoft pursuits, from his data-driven mission with USA Facts |
| 1:07.5 | to transforming the NBA fan experience with the LA Clippers. |
| 1:11.0 | I knew more about what I wanted in that arena than in any other product I was ever involved |
| 1:18.1 | with. And we hear his message for his former Microsoft colleagues. |
| 1:22.2 | It's a reminder to me of just how cool it was to work together. And I thank you for that. |
| 1:29.9 | Stay tuned for my conversation with Steve Balmer, recorded live in front of an audience at |
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