THE RIGHT WAY … AND THE WRONG WAY

Satya Nadella became CEO of Microsoft in 2014, at a time when the company was struggling with internal silos and a rigid, competitive culture. Rather than enforcing top-down control, Nadella prioritized empathy and transparency. He launched open forums where employees at all levels could voice concerns. He shifted Microsoft from a “know-it-all” to a “learn-it-all” culture. This enlightened approach revitalized Microsoft, proving trust can be built through emotional bonding and shared purpose. Indra Nooyi, as CEO of PepsiCo, built trust through emotional engagement with employees. One of her most impactful initiatives was writing personal letters to the parents of 400 top-performing employees, thanking them for raising exceptional individuals. This strengthened loyalty and created a culture of mutual respect. Nooyi’s leadership demonstrated that trust flourishes when employees feel valued not just…