Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s son, Zain, dies at 26 from cerebral palsy. Nadella says son’s disability impacted his life: ‘Everything changed’
Satya Nadella’s message to Microsoft staff asked executives to hold the family in their thoughts and prayers while giving them space to grieve privately. Microsoft CEO says son’s developmental disability impacted his leadership: ‘Everything changed’
In 2017, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella credits his son with shaping who he is after he struggled with ‘Why us?’
Very rarely do people admit the birth of their child would leave them devastated. But that’s the very honest confession from the CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella.”
“I was 29 when Zain was born,” Nadella said about the birth of his son in 1996. Nadella had only been working at Microsoft for four years. He and his wife Anupama Nadella are both overachievers, both only children themselves, who had been anxiously awaiting their firstborn.
“The night he was born, everything changed,” Nadella said because “In utero asphyxiation caused a severe case of brain damage, which led to cerebral palsy. To be honest, for a few years after, I was thrown a real curve ball because all my plans were out. I said, ‘why did this happen to me? What happened to us?'”
His wife Anupama Nadella put together a team of doctors and therapists, all dedicated to helping Zain, and this changed his perspective.
“That’s what I think ultimately woke me up, to recognize that nothing happened to me,” he said. “Something happened to Zain, and it was my responsibility as a father to step up.”
Zain was non-verbal and required a wheelchair to get around. Zain died on Monday morning at the age of 26 years. The software maker told its executive staff in an email that Zain had passed away. The message asked executives to hold the family in their thoughts and prayers while giving them space to grieve privately.
Satya Nadella took on the CEO’s role in 2014 and had focused the company on designing products to better serve users with disabilities and cited lessons he learned raising and supporting Zain. Last year, the Children’s Hospital, where Zain received much of his treatment, joined with the Nadellas to establish the Zain Nadella Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neurosciences, as part of Seattle Children’s Center for Integrative Brain Research.
“Zain will be remembered for his eclectic taste in music, his bright sunny smile and the immense joy he brought to his family and all those who loved him,” Jeff Sperring, CEO of Children’s Hospital, wrote in a message to his Board, which was shared with Microsoft executives.
Condolences pour in:
In Hit Refresh, Satya Nadella wrote about how his son Zain’s condition changed the way he looked at tech, his work and life itself. pic.twitter.com/Fr3VvpXXu4
— Ramnath (@rmnth) March 1, 2022
Satya Nadella's son, Zain, has passed away at the age of 26. Condolences to Anu and @satyanadella.
Zain was born with cerebral palsy and in his book, Hit Refresh, Satya dug into his personal journey and wrote how Zain’s birth required him to grow as a person. pic.twitter.com/PPiecqw6Jr
— Abhishek Baxi (@baxiabhishek) March 1, 2022
Deeply pained to learn of the passing away of young Zain Nadella. Condolences to Anupama Ji, @satyanadella and family. May god give them strength through this difficult time. Om Shanthi.
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) March 1, 2022
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is bereaved. His 26-year-old son Zain Nadella died Monday morning in US. He had been born with cerebral palsy. Zain received much of his treatment at Children’s Hospital. May his soul rest in peace.#RIPZainNadella #ZainNadella pic.twitter.com/9nlpG9Lx7M
— Gulte (@GulteOfficial) March 1, 2022