February 2014 seems so long ago.

Bitcoin exchange Mt Gox shut down after it was hacked, the Nokia X was unveiled at Mobile World Congress, and Satya Nadella, president of Microsoft's Server & Tools division, was promoted to the CEO spot, replacing Steve Ballmer.

To mark the eighth anniversary of Nadella’s ascension, enterprise reporter Ron Miller looked back at the executive’s tenure to grade his performance and identify potential pitfalls that lie ahead.

“When a company has this much financial clout, it can pretty much push its way into any market,” writes Ron.

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Microsoft's largest acquisitions have taken place since Nadella took the reins: $69B for Activision, $26B for LinkedIn, and $20B for Nuance Communications.

But the Biden administration has taken a stronger interest in antitrust legislation, and that could directly impact Redmond's long-term expansion strategy.

“The challenge for Nadella and Microsoft in the years ahead will be navigating increasing regulatory oversight while working to keep the company broadly diversified," says Ron.

Thanks very much for reading TechCrunch+, and have a great weekend!

Walter Thompson
Senior Editor, TechCrunch+
@yourprotagonist

Dear Sophie: How can early-stage startups compete for talent?

Image Credits: Bryce Durbin/TechCrunch

Dear Sophie,

As a first-time, early-stage startup founder, I find it difficult to compete against other startups on compensation.

We’ve had some interest from individuals who need visas or are demanding green cards, but paying the government and legal fees would be a stretch for us.

Any advice for reducing the cost of recruiting from abroad?

— Fledgling Founder

3 warning signs that your investor will leave you on the sidelines