Satya Nadella apologise for his remarks

Microsoft boss Satya Nadella became the eye of the sort in the controversy about the role of women in the tech industry with remarks on pay discrimination particularly in the tech space. He had said women should not ask for a pay raise because 'it's not good karma'. But now - given the massive anti-Nadella sentiment across the tech world and social media - he is distancing himself from the comments.

At an event focusing on women in computing, Nadella was asked Thursday what advice he would give women who don’t feel comfortable pressing their bosses for promotions or raises. He has since tweeted to suggest his remarks were out of order.

Was inarticulate re how women should ask for raise. Our industry must close gender pay gap so a raise is not needed because of a bias #GHC14

— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) October 9, 2014

As part of his regret on the same issue, Nadella wrote an email to employees of Microsoft saying the following:

All – Today I was interviewed on stage by Maria Klawe at the Grace Hopper Conference – I encourage you to watch the video. It was great to spend time with so many women passionate about technology. I was honored to be a part of it and I left the conference energized and inspired.

Toward the end of the interview, Maria asked me what advice I would offer women who are not comfortable asking for pay raises. I answered that question completely wrong. Without a doubt I wholeheartedly support programs at Microsoft and in the industry that bring more women into technology and close the pay gap. I believe men and women should get equal pay for equal work. And when it comes to career advice on getting a raise when you think it’s deserved, Maria’s advice was the right advice. If you think you deserve a raise, you should just ask.