An article by IMD Business School, titled 'Ecosystem playbook - Microsoft Growth - I', details how Microsoft's remarkable growth under CEO Satya Nadella is largely attributable to a fundamental shift in its strategic approach. Nadella pivoted the company from an inward-looking, 'Microsoft-first' mentality to an 'ecosystem-centric' model, prioritizing customer-first strategies, collaboration, and extensive partnerships, even with competitors. This transformation involved fostering openness, cross-platform collaboration, and joint value creation, moving away from a traditional 'lock-in' strategy. The article emphasizes that this ecosystem strategy has been a secret supercharger for Microsoft's meteoric rise, repositioning it as a powerhouse in cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Evidence of this includes the significant surge in Microsoft's stock price since Nadella took leadership in 2014 and its impressive market capitalization, reportedly over $3.8 trillion by October 2025. Key initiatives like the Azure platform, and strategic alliances with companies such as Apple, Salesforce, OpenAI, and Nvidia, exemplify this collaborative approach. IMD's analysis suggests that true ecosystem leadership requires empathy and a relentless focus on understanding partners' needs to ensure mutual success, rather than aiming for domination. This 'ecosystem playbook' is not confined to the software world but offers a scalable and resilient model for organizations across various industries seeking to innovate and thrive in today's interconnected business environments. IMD Business School itself is a highly credible source, globally recognized for its executive education and impactful research.