Despite Microsoft's size and market dominance, CEO Steve Ballmer considers himself to be a "mini venture capitalist" in a sea of bright ideas and new market possibilities. Working with the best and the brightest, his is the final word on tough decisions regarding which ideas and projects receive funding and other in-house resources from the company's limited pool. New products come and go with varying success, but by staying focused on core-competancies and core-strategies, says Ballmer, the right decisions will always come to light.

1. The Future of Microsoft, The Future of Technology (Entire Talk)
2. The Start-Up During Economic Crisis
3. The Slow Incubation of Disruptive Technologies
4. Emerging Trends in the Future of Technology
5. Microsoft's Research and Development
6. The Interplay of Venture Capital and Innovation
7. Balance and Tension in Company Culture
8. The Launch of Ballmer's Microsoft Career
9. Choosing the Right Projects
10. Applying Education to On-the-Job Experience

Steve Ballmer lectures on Entrepreneurship for Stanford University students, May 6, 2009. Steven A. Ballmer is Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Corporation, the world's leading manufacturer of software for personal and business computing. Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 and was the first business manager hired by Bill Gates. Since then, Ballmer's leadership and passion have become hallmarks of his tenure at the company. In this Stanford lecture, he talks about the start-up during economic crisis and applying education to on-the-job experience.

Related Links: http://www.microsoft.com
Last Updated: Wed, May 6, 2009

Course Details:
- Entrepreneurial Thought Leader Lecture
- Stanford University's Entrepreneurship Corner (ecorner)

Original Course Name: Entrepreneurial Thought Leader Lecture