When Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella transformed the company’s culture with these three words

In 2014, when Satya Nadella became Microsoft CEO, the company struggled to keep up with a rapidly changing technology sector. He transformed the company’s culture with three words: “learn-it-all”, not “know-it-all.” Nadella sought to change how employees approached learning, collaboration and innovation at the technology giant. Drawing on psychologist Carol Dweck’s research on growth mindset, he encouraged employees to embrace curiosity, acknowledge what they didn’t know, and continuously improve their skills.The shift moved the focus away from proving existing expertise towards learning from others and adapting to change. Nadella repeatedly used the phrase and incorporated the philosophy into management evaluations, making curiosity an important part of Microsoft’s workplace culture. More than a decade later, he continues to emphasise learning as the company navigates changes driven by artificial intelligence, while maintaining that its future depends on adapting to new…