Gates Makes Case to CEOs

At its seventh annual CEO Summit, which brings CEOs from major corporations to Microsoft’s headquarters, Microsoft focused on showing how IT can improve worker productivity, particularly by allowing people to communicate more effectively, and on planned enhancements that will make computing more secure and reliable. Chief Software Architect Bill Gates also discussed specific technologies that Microsoft has used internally to streamline business processes. Although closed to the press, public transcripts from the event often reveal Microsoft’s priorities for the next year, which can be useful to partners and systems integrators.

Focus on Collaboration, Reliability

Held every May since 1997, Microsoft’s CEO Summit is a two-day event consisting of speeches, panel discussions on corporate governance and other topics, and social events, such as dinner at Gates’s house. The event gives Microsoft executives an opportunity to pitch the company’s products and technology vision directly to top decision makers; invitees get the opportunity to discuss pressing issues and initiate deals with top Microsoft executives.