The Microsoft Playbook: Business Strategies That Work - Rita McGrath, Dean Carignan and JoAnn Garbin

In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Dean Carignan and JoAnn Garbin about their new book The Insider's Guide to Innovation at Microsoft. Together, the three innovation experts discuss the strategies and models that enabled Microsoft to continuously innovate for 50 years, and how other leaders and organizations can apply these strategic lessons. Key Takeaways:✅ The Power of Reinvention – How Microsoft has navigated four major technological shifts, including AI.✅ Culture of Risk & Learning – Why embracing failure fuels innovation rather than stifling it.✅ From Competition to Collaboration – How Satya Nadella’s leadership transformed Microsoft’s work culture.✅ The Hackathon Effect – How company-wide experimentation has driven groundbreaking ideas.✅ Human-Centered AI – How Microsoft approaches responsible AI development.🔗 Order now: https://www.innovationatmicrosoft.com/home#buynow

00:00 Welcome Intro

01:17 Dean Intro

02:08 JoAnn Intro

03:23 Brief Book Intro & Proceeds to STEAM

05:35 Microsoft’s “Secret Sauce” for Innovation

09:45 Boundary Crossers for Innovation @ Microsoft

11:23 How to Grow a Business — Innovate with Everyone & Over the Years

15:26 Failure and Not Working Out in Innovation

19:29 “Failure to Launch” — Trying New Things

20:54 Agility & Learning from Failure (Mobile Example)

23:03 Hackathons & Rita’s “Brand Takeover” — Expanding Your Thinking

27:32 Design Principles — What Good Looks Like

31:10 Overshooting What Customers Want — No New Features!

34:01 Satya Nadella Transition

38:10 Responsible AI & Human-Centered AI

45:55 Startups & Where the Money Flows

51:23 Is Software Going Away? Agentic AI

54:26 “Fifth Industrial Revolution”

58:06 Hyper-Localization & Technology Reaching Out to U -------------------Thought Sparks, the brainchild of Rita McGrath, are insightful actions, strategic ideas, actionable suggestions and innovative approaches that help organizations and leaders master the future with less fear and more confidence. New episodes of the Thought Sparks Podcast are released every other Tuesday at 11am Eastern. Want to learn more about Rita’s ideas and hear more of her conversations with business leaders and innovators? Listen to more Thought Sparks Podcast episodes on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Watch Thought Sparks episodes on YouTubeFollow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.Connect with Rita on TikTokSign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack. Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com