Gaining the Technology Leadership Edge: A Conversation with William Adams

Gaining the Technology Leadership Edge: A Conversation with William Adams

Welcome to “Gaining the Technology Leadership Edge,” a podcast that explores the latest trends, strategies, and insights in the technology leadership world. In today’s episode, we have a special guest, William Adams, an award-winning DNI, innovator, engineering trailblazer, and philanthropist. William has had an impressive career, including his time at Microsoft, where he played a crucial role in rolling out XML code and later became the first Technical Advisor to the CTO of Microsoft, Kevin Scott.

In this conversation, we delve into the challenges and opportunities that William faced during his time at Microsoft, the slow adoption of XML, and the cultural transformation that the company underwent. We also discuss the importance of empathy in leadership, the need for better support and opportunities for underrepresented talent in the tech industry, and the role of philanthropy in giving back to society.

The Slow Adoption of XML

One of the topics we explore is the slow adoption of XML and the reasons behind it. William explains that XML was initially designed as a universal data exchange format, similar to HTML but with more capabilities. However, the complexity of the XML ecosystem, with various specifications and standards, made it challenging for programmers to use effectively. William highlights the emergence of JSON as a simpler alternative for data exchange, which ultimately led to the decline of XML.

“Part of it was, I would say by design… We as big companies, as we tend to do, used XML as a battleground… So we were in the standards bodies, and we’re doing battle… People said, ‘Okay, forget this XML thing, it’s a bunch of noise, it’s too difficult, the ecosystem is too hard.’ And that was the critical mistake we were too caught up in. And we forgot the programmers, and the programmers forgot us.”

The Cultural Transformation at Microsoft

William shares his insights into the cultural transformation that Microsoft underwent during his 24 years at the company. He describes the early days as intense and competitive, with a focus on outperforming competitors and establishing dominance in the industry. However, as the company faced challenges and competition, the culture shifted towards a more customer-centric approach under the leadership of Steve Ballmer. This transition continued with the appointment of Satya Nadella as CEO, who emphasized empathy and a focus on making a positive impact in the world.

“The culture was much more violent than it is today… It was the Bill Gates driven culture… Then we went through the Steve Ballmer driven culture, which was more like we care about the customers and how we get stuff done… And now it’s the Satya and the Della culture where the world matters most… We will make money, don’t worry about it. How we show up in the world is what’s most important.”

The Challenges of Leadership

As a technology leader, William faced various challenges throughout his career. One of the significant challenges he encountered was learning to work with different types of bosses, even those he didn’t agree with. He emphasizes the importance of understanding their needs and providing them with the necessary information to succeed. Another challenge he highlights is finding the balance between his passion for coding and the strategic vision required to drive innovation and meet customer needs.

“One of the biggest challenges was… understanding how to really work for someone else, particularly people that I don’t agree with… It really chafed me for a while… I had a friend who just said, ‘Well, what are you going to do about it?’… Figure out how to work with this… The other challenge would be… figuring out the balance of what you want to do because you like to play with code… and what customers really need.”

The Importance of Empathy and Giving Back

Throughout the conversation, William emphasizes the importance of empathy in leadership and the need to support underrepresented talent in the tech industry. He shares his vision of creating a “Motown of tech” that fosters and develops talent, particularly within the black community. William believes that the tech industry has a responsibility to give back to society and use its wealth and resources to make a positive impact.

“I take it as a responsibility… We as programmers and whatnot have taken a lion’s share of the wealth of the planet… You have to turn to the society that put you in that position and say, thank you, society. I’m giving back.”

In conclusion, our conversation with William Adams sheds light on the challenges and opportunities in the technology leadership world. We explored the slow adoption of XML, the cultural transformation at Microsoft, the challenges of leadership, and the importance of empathy and giving back. As technology leaders, it is crucial to stay ahead of the curve, foster diverse talent, and make a positive impact in the world. Let’s continue to innovate, lead with empathy, and create a better future for all.