Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, has expressed some regret about his choice to leave Harvard University in 1975 to become the initial CEO of Microsoft. Despite the enormous success that followed, Gates looks back on the academic world with fondness.
In his memoir, Source Code, Gates mentioned that he always intended to return to Harvard to earn his degree. He has stated he appreciated his time at the university. Speaking to CNBC Make It, he recalled, “I enjoyed Harvard. I enjoyed the classes, including some that I just sat in on—psychology, economics, history. I loved being surrounded by smart people. We could stay up late, having fascinating discussions.”
Gates’ vision, even in high school, foresaw a future for computers that required microprocessors, which would make them more portable, cheaper, and smaller. His college friend, Paul Allen, became the other co-founder of Microsoft. During their Christmas break in 1974, Allen decided to make software that would allow hobbyists to create their programs on Altair which led to the most important decision of Gates’ and Allen’s lives. They chose to drop out of college and bring Microsoft into the world.
For Gates, balancing his academic work with operating Microsoft proved difficult, even though he tried to do both for two years. An attempt at delegating leadership to Microsoft programmer Ric Weiland failed when Weiland opted to go to graduate school. This led Gates to take full control of Microsoft and leave Harvard permanently. He felt the need to fully commit to Microsoft, working with the utmost intensity to develop the company. Microsoft is a well-known revolution in the technology world which Gates built from a startup to a multinational tech giant.
Regarding Gates’ departure from Harvard, his professor, Harry Lewis, has admitted to some regrets of his own. “I wasn’t surprised when he dropped out,” Lewis said. “I just wish I’d invested in him.” Lewis also applauded Gates’ willingness to take on challenges, according to ET Reports.
