Nehru's quit(e) happy!

Rajnish Sharma / TNN / Sep 2, 2006, 21:22 IST

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With Bill Gates as his boss and 'hotmale' Sabeer Bhatia as his junior, Amar Nehru had everything going for him. But he gave it all up. He tells us why.

With Bill Gates as his boss and 'hotmale' Sabeer Bhatia as his junior, Amar Nehru had everything going for him. But he gave it all up. He tells us why.
There's much more to Amar Nehru than his famous surname. The extremely articulate yet media shy Nehru kept away from the spotlight even as he climbed the ladder of success to dizzying heights. Among the first three Indian Vice-Presidents at Microsoft in Seattle, US, Amar Nehru's routine work required interacting with Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, no less!
He also had Asia's first IT poster boy Sabeer Bhatia, as his junior after Bhatia sold Hotmail to Microsoft for $400 million and joined the company.However, much to everyone's surprise, Nehru, 45, quit his high profile job sometime back.
Vice-President, corporate development group, in charge of worldwide strategic acquisition and mergers. He tells us why, in his first ever interview to the Indian media.

Why did you decide to chuck it all up?
It was time to do something different. I had injured myself, took medical leave, got some distance from Microsoft and then decided it was time to go on to other passions and interests. Too much of anything is not good. I wanted to avoid the inertia of complacency.
Careers, like any other asset, have a useful life and the important thing to understand is that there is an optimal time to leave before obsolescence sets in. The job of a good manager is to obsolete him/herself. I did...

...
Was it a spontaneous decision or a well thought out one?
Bit of both. The final decision was spontaneous, but I had been thinking along the lines of doing something for some time. The final severance was instinctive and very hard.
What was Bill Gates'/Steve Ballmer's, your colleagues' and your family's reaction to your decision?
Family was supportive, colleagues and superiors tried to talk me out of the decision.
But eventually it is a lonely decision that needs to be made quickly. Dragging it out only adds to frustration and confusion and conflict. Best for the health to do it soon and put it behind one.
Do you think the common man can afford the luxury of quitting a job and pursuing his passion?
Realistically, no. But then there are many factors that go into the decision once the issue of putting food on the table and paying the bills for necessities are taken care of.
The critical thing is to separate whether the motive that holds one tethered to a job that has outlived its relevance, is genuine or just rationalisation of the comfort of security and the inertia of the known.
Failure at a new endeavour, complacency, not knowing what better to do with one's time or social acceptance factors (eg what will parents think, what will friends say) are more common reasons for staying that afflict our group, and are all wrong.
What keeps you busy now?
Some consultancy and board seats, trying to write a book, painting and in the process of starting up my own business(es). But most importantly reconnecting with the family and making up for lost time with my children.
Are you enjoying this phase of your life? Do you find it more meaningful and creative?
YES, YES and YES.
What next?
Author, entrepreneur, painter. Whether I succeed or not by any definition of success, what is important is that I would have tried.
I am thinking again and trying to find meaning on my own, rather than meaning handed down to me by a well-functioning organisation where I was merely a whisper in a powerful drone.
Do you miss the money, perks and the power of the post?
Sometimes and some of it. I miss the ease of getting things done, I miss the health benefits. But this is more than offset by the sense of liberation and the thrill of being on the edge going it alone that I now have. So I would not trade this feeling easily.
Any moments of regret?
Initially, yes. Now, no.
What's your take on Bill Gates' decision to completely withdraw from day-to-day working of Microsoft?
To focus on philanthropy is excellent. He will be able to affect the world more through that avenue than continuing on at Microsoft.
Again, as I said before, all things are rated, all things have a useful life. Microsoft had outlived its utility for Bill, and I suspect the reverse was true in a symmetrical sense.
So Bill's decision is only to be commended. It is hard to leave one's baby, but then that has to be done. Besides, he will be able to spend more time with the family also. That in itself is a noble cause.
I believe that Sabeer Bhatia worked under you.
Yes, Sabeer worked for me for a short while, but it was, and I stress, it was a move of convenience for the MSN senior management and it was temporary. This was soon after we had acquired his company, Hotmail. He is a very smart guy.
rajnish.sharma@timesgroup.com

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