logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2025
17m 28s

Microsoft at 50

Bbc World Service
About this episode

In its 50th anniversary year, we chart Microsoft's history and look at where the tech giant is heading into the future.

It's one of the world's biggest companies - we get exclusive access to the Seattle HQ.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Zoe Kleinman Producers: Imran Rahman-Jones, Georgina Hayes and Rumella Dasgupta

(Picture: A Microsoft sign is seen outside the company headquarters on July 3, 2024 in Redmond, Washington. Credit: Getty Images)

Up next
Nov 21
What happens when the aid money runs out?
<p>In the second of our two-part series on tightening aid budgets, Sam Fenwick explores what shrinking donor support means for global health — from the sudden halt to major US-funded projects, to the pressure on low-income countries to increase their own health spending.</p><p>As ... Show More
17m 30s
Nov 20
What's next for USAID funded projects?
<p>We examine the fallout from the cuts to US foreign aid.</p><p>We meet projects in Rwanda and Nepal that were close to shutting down - and hear the story of a mystery donor who stepped in to keep them going. </p><p>But how long will the support last? </p><p>Presented and produ ... Show More
17m 28s
Nov 19
Is cricket financially healthy?
<p>One of world sport's biggest rivalries gets underway this week, with England and Australia going head to head in the Ashes. Most matches will last around four or five days, but it's actually the short form of the game that is growing the fastest - and bringing in big audiences ... Show More
17m 29s
Recommended Episodes
May 2025
The Best Company in Big Tech?
Microsoft just got the market focused on business results again. (00:21) Nick Sciple and Dylan Lewis discuss: - Microsoft posting double digit growth across five segments and continuing to put cap ex to work on AI and the cloud. - Meta’s advertising present and AI future. - Why M ... Show More
29m 46s
Jul 2024
Microsoft Volume II
In 1999, Microsoft became the most valuable company in the world. And in 2019, Microsoft became the most valuable company in the world, again. But… what happened in the twenty years in between? The answer, as we discovered in our research, is probably not what you think.In this e ... Show More
4h 48m
Jun 2025
The Steve Ballmer Interview
We sit down with Steve Ballmer, the legendary former Microsoft CEO and owner of the LA Clippers, for an epic conversation covering his 34 years at Microsoft. Steve listened to our Microsoft episodes and had some thoughts to share — and boy, did he deliver. Steve takes us point-by ... Show More
2h 59m
Jun 2025
The Human Firewall: People-First Cybersecurity
Dr. Aleise McGowan, Chief Information Security Officer of BlackGirlsHack and a 20-year cybersecurity veteran, joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Aleise shares how a career-defining hack early on shifted her trajectory from developer to defender, and why she ... Show More
33m 3s
Jun 2024
INSIDE Forbes | MENA’s Top 100 Listed Companies 2024 | Forbes ME June 2024
This month on Inside Forbes, Sally Mousa and Claudine Coletti take a look at the MENA region’s top 100 listed companies: who’s at the top, the new-comers, and the challenges that they’ve seen this past year. We have the latest on our cover stars: Group CEO of NMDC, Engineer Yasse ... Show More
13m 51s
Feb 2025
Meta & Microsoft Brush Off DeepSeek + Starbucks Stages a Comeback
Scott and Ed open the show by discussing the White House’s employee buyout, Starbucks’ fourth quarter earnings, and the beta launch of T-Mobile’s exclusive Starlink deal. Then they break down Meta, Microsoft, and Tesla’s earnings, and examine why big tech has yet to adjust its sp ... Show More
54m 43s
Jun 2024
Apple WWDC 2024, MoviePass Documentary
Bloomberg's Caroline Hyde discusses the latest from Apple as the company's annual developer conference kicks off in Cupertino, California. Plus, conversations with DreamWorks Founder Jeffrey Katzenberg and MoviePass Co-Founder Hamet Watt.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ... Show More
42m 36s
Aug 2024
OpenAI’s Bret Taylor: Your business can’t wait until AI is perfect
<p>Chairman of OpenAI, former co-CEO of Salesforce, and co-creator of Google Maps – those are just a few roles Bret Taylor has played in his Silicon Valley career. Reid Hoffman talks with Bret about OpenAI's world-shaping mission, why he founded Sierra and got back in the start-u ... Show More
34m 52s
Oct 2024
Is the American Dream Still Alive? | Steve Ballmer
Steve Ballmer is a prominent American businessman and philanthropist, best known for his role as the CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014. In today’s episode, Ballmer shares the circumstances of his upbringing in Detroit, Michigan, the early days of Microsoft, and his concerns abou ... Show More
58m 11s
Feb 2025
Prof G Markets: Meta & Microsoft Brush Off DeepSeek + Starbucks Stages a Comeback
Follow Prof G Markets: Apple Podcasts Spotify  Scott and Ed open the show by discussing the White House’s employee buyout, Starbucks’ fourth quarter earnings, and the beta launch of T-Mobile’s exclusive Starlink deal. Then they break down Meta, Microsoft, and Tesla’s earnings ... Show More
55m 7s