Steve Ballmer

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Well, we have a lot of thank yous on this one, as you can imagine. People were really generous with their time, pointing us to different resources, explaining their recollection of history as it happened. And, you know, being in Seattle, active in the venture community here, both through PSL and David, you're in my shared history at Madrona, me working at Microsoft.

Well, we have a lot of thank yous on this one, as you can imagine. People were really generous with their time, pointing us to different resources, explaining their recollection of history as it happened. And, you know, being in Seattle, active in the venture community here, both through PSL and David, you're in my shared history at Madrona, me working at Microsoft.

A lot of good opportunities to learn what really happened from folks. So a huge thank you to Mike Slade, who spent the time with me. Mike spent two different stints at Microsoft and then at Next and Apple in between.

A lot of good opportunities to learn what really happened from folks. So a huge thank you to Mike Slade, who spent the time with me. Mike spent two different stints at Microsoft and then at Next and Apple in between.

Yep. And one of the few people in the world who both spent a ton of time with Steve and with Bill and worked closely with both of them. So, so great to get his perspective, especially about the early days of office and the applications group. Very helpful. Similarly, Pete Higgins worked closely with Mike.

Yep. And one of the few people in the world who both spent a ton of time with Steve and with Bill and worked closely with both of them. So, so great to get his perspective, especially about the early days of office and the applications group. Very helpful. Similarly, Pete Higgins worked closely with Mike.

Pete, I think, ran Excel for a long time and oversaw a lot of the different stuff in the applications group. and I believe also ran Office. It's kind of funny how many different people picked up the mantle over time as these things traded around groups.

Pete, I think, ran Excel for a long time and oversaw a lot of the different stuff in the applications group. and I believe also ran Office. It's kind of funny how many different people picked up the mantle over time as these things traded around groups.

But frankly, I think that's a huge part of the Microsoft story is the company very quickly adapted and changed its structure depending on the current needs of technology and competitors and et cetera. Huge thanks to Tren Griffin, who is actually a lifelong... Seattleite and sort of close friend to the whole Gates family. Bill Gates Sr. was his mentor.

But frankly, I think that's a huge part of the Microsoft story is the company very quickly adapted and changed its structure depending on the current needs of technology and competitors and et cetera. Huge thanks to Tren Griffin, who is actually a lifelong... Seattleite and sort of close friend to the whole Gates family. Bill Gates Sr. was his mentor.

I'm sure you've seen Trenn's prolific tweets online about Microsoft history. So Trenn, and actually Trenn I think currently works at Microsoft in a strategy role. So thanks Trenn for your help as well. David, I know you've got a bunch.

I'm sure you've seen Trenn's prolific tweets online about Microsoft history. So Trenn, and actually Trenn I think currently works at Microsoft in a strategy role. So thanks Trenn for your help as well. David, I know you've got a bunch.

I read like 20 of Steven's hardcore software posts. And then when David and I were dividing up what belongs in what episode, I realized like 19 of them belong in next episode. So Steven, thank you for your early prep work for part two.

I read like 20 of Steven's hardcore software posts. And then when David and I were dividing up what belongs in what episode, I realized like 19 of them belong in next episode. So Steven, thank you for your early prep work for part two.

Yeah, when I was there, Terry was EVP over, I think, Windows and Windows Phone.

Yeah, when I was there, Terry was EVP over, I think, Windows and Windows Phone.

Yep. And how different the go-to-market motions were for Windows and Office. I think Terry was the one that sort of gave us the insight of Windows, especially in the early days, was basically an OEM game, small group doing an OEM thing.

Yep. And how different the go-to-market motions were for Windows and Office. I think Terry was the one that sort of gave us the insight of Windows, especially in the early days, was basically an OEM game, small group doing an OEM thing.

Right. And it's still, I don't think, a very big team even today.