Analysis
The quote appears verbatim in a memo Satya Nadella sent to Microsoft employees in March 2020 titled “Our response to COVID‑19”. In it he emphasizes empathy as a muscle that must be exercised, especially during crises, and adds that it involves creating space for people to be heard and valued. The memo was later referenced in public articles and on Microsoft’s internal communication platform.
Background
During the early months of the pandemic, Microsoft leadership issued multiple communications to staff addressing health, remote work, and corporate values. Nadella’s memo stressed the importance of empathy to maintain morale and support employees navigating unprecedented challenges. The phrase has since been cited in media coverage of Microsoft’s pandemic response.
Verdict summary
Satya Nadella did write that exact sentence in an internal Microsoft memo during the 2020 COVID‑19 crisis.