Bill Gates, with over ₹1000000 crore net worth, works as customer support in this company
But beyond a fatherly gesture, the move offered a deeper message about modern leadership. 'I've learned over the years that the best way to understand how something works, or where it breaks, is to go straight to the people using it,' he added.
Mobile finder: Realme 15 Pro launching in India today
What is Phia?
Phia is a browser extension and mobile app that helps users shop smarter. It uses artificial intelligence to compare prices across more than 40,000 online stores, including both new and second-hand options. Phia also highlights eco-friendly alternatives, catering to Gen Z's growing preference for sustainable and cost-conscious fashion choices.
Describing it as a 'Booking.com for fashion,' Gates praised the platform's effort to rethink online shopping while keeping sustainability at the core.
Gates Steers Clear of Funding
Interestingly, Gates has not invested in the startup. In an earlier podcast, he revealed that financial involvement would have pulled him too deep into the business, potentially influencing decisions that should belong to Phoebe and her co-founder. Instead, he chose to support them through mentorship and, in this case, by experiencing the front line himself.
CEO Lessons from the Ground
Gates joins a small but growing list of high-profile executives who have taken hands-on roles to better understand their companies. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, for instance, famously worked as an Uber Eats delivery driver during the pandemic. He later said the experience helped him uncover gaps in the driver experience that had been overlooked by senior management.
Such moves reflect a shift toward 'leadership by doing,' where executives step out of boardrooms and into the trenches. According to a Harvard Business School study, most CEOs spend less than 10% of their time engaging directly with customers or front-line employees.
Gates' one-day stint at Phia may have been brief, but it sends a strong message: to stay relevant and connected, even the most accomplished leaders must be willing to start from the inbox.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
TCS layoffs: What will Tata Consultancy Services do for 12,000 employees it will let go this year? What the IT giant said
TCS layoffs: The move to cut its staff strength also comes at a time when TCS is facing resistance for its changed bench policy. (AI image) TCS layoffs: India's largest IT services exporter, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), on Sunday announced that it plans to lay off 2% of its workforce over the year. This decision to reduce its employee strength by around 12,000 will impact its global workforce. The IT giant said that the people who will be impacted by the move will mostly fall in the middle to senior management category. Global economic uncertainties and artificial intelligence-driven technological changes are impacting the TCS business operations. At the end of the first quarter of the current financial year, the Tata group subsidiary had a workforce of 613,069 employees. What Does TCS Plan To Do For Employees Who Will Be Laid Off? TCS has said that it will give the appropriate benefits, outplacement, counselling, and support to the impacted employees. According to an ET report, the impacted staff members of TCS will be provided with notice period compensation and severance benefits by the company. Additionally, TCS plans to give insurance coverage extension and career transition assistance to those affected. In an official statement the IT giant said: "TCS is on a journey to become a future-ready organisation… As part of this journey, we will also be releasing associates from the organisation whose deployment may not be feasible. This will impact about 2% of our global workforce, primarily in the middle and the senior grades, over the course of the year." The company further added: "This transition is being planned with due care to ensure there is no impact on service delivery to our clients… We understand that this is a challenging time for our colleagues likely to be affected. We thank them for their service and we will be making all efforts to provide appropriate benefits, outplacement, counselling, and support as they transition to new opportunities." The move to cut its staff strength comes at a time when TCS is facing resistance for its changed bench policy, which now stipulates a maximum of 35 non-project days annually and requires staff to maintain 225 billable days per year. TCS has also recently delayed the onboarding of around 600 experienced lateral entry hires. Global Tech Layoffs Cross 80,000 This Year Data from which monitors global technology sector redundancies, indicates that over 80,000 technology professionals across 169 companies have lost their jobs in 2025, according to a PTI report. Microsoft, which is the world's second most valuable listed company after Nvidia, has dismissed more than 15,000 staff members in 2025, which is 7% of its worldwide workforce. In a recent communication to his workforce of over 2 lakh employees, Microsoft's Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella expressed his deep concern regarding this year's staff reductions. "This is the enigma of success in an industry that has no franchise value," he said in his message to employees. He continued: "Progress isn't linear. It's dynamic, sometimes dissonant, and always demanding. But it's also a new opportunity for us to shape, lead through, and have greater impact than ever before." 2024 saw approximately 150,000 job losses across 551 technology firms, reflecting both worldwide economic challenges and ongoing discussions within the technology sector regarding AI's influence on employment opportunities, workforce structure, and professional capabilities. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Wall Street Week Ahead: Spotlight on Fed rate decision, earnings from Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Apple, Amazon
Wall Street in the week ahead will receive plenty of economic data, Big Tech earnings, and the US Federal Reserve's fifth interest rate decision of the year. The economic calendar will see the release of data such as jobs report, second quarter GDP (Gross Domestic Product) numbers, personal income and spending data, PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures) Index, and S&P manufacturing PMI report among others. For the Q2 earnings, investors will closely watch financial results from tech giants Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Apple, and e-commerce giant Amazon. On the monetary policy front, market participants were keenly awaiting the interest rate decision from the Federal Reserve, which is widely expected to hold it steady. Post-rate decision, Jerome Powell's press conference will be heavily scrutinized amid enormous criticism from US President Donald Trump. On Friday, Trump said that he believed that Fed Chair Jerome Powellmight be ready to lower rates. He made a rare visit to the central bank on Thursday after calling Powell a "numbskull" earlier in the week for failing to cut rates. On July 29 (Tuesday), separate reports on advanced US trade balance in goods for June, S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index (20 cities) for May, consumer confidence for July, job openings for June will be released. On July 30 (Wednesday), separate reports on ADP employment for July, GDP Q2, pending home sales for June, FOMC interest rate decision will be declared. Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference is also scheduled on Wednesday. On July 31 (Thursday), separate reports on Employment Cost Index Q2, personal income and spending for June, PCE Index for June, and Chicago Business Barometer (PMI) for July will be released. On August 1 (Friday), US employment report for July, S&P final US manufacturing PMI for July, ISM manufacturing for July, construction spending for June, consumer sentiment (final) for July, and TBA Auto sales for July will be released. Following companies are due to report second quarter results in the week ahead — Waste Management, Nucor, Visa, Procter & Gamble, UnitedHealth, Boeing, PayPal, Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Qualcomm, Robinhood, eBay, Apple, Mastercard, Exxon Mobil, and Chevron. data-vars-page-type="story" data-vars-link-type="Manual">US stocks ended higher and dollar firmed on Friday ahead of a big week for market risk. The S&P 500 gained 26.73 points, or 0.42%, to end at 6,390.08 points, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 53.95 points, or 0.26%, to 21,111.90. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 213.74 points, or 0.48%, to 44,907.65. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury eased to 4.38% from 4.43%. The 2-year Treasury yield held steady at 3.91%.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
The Los Angeles Lakers might lose Lebron James in 2026 after his surprising meeting with Nikola Jokic's agent
(Image Source - Getty Images) The Los Angeles Lakers, a franchise with a rich history in the NBA, could potentially lose their superstar, LeBron James , by 2026. This speculation began after a surprising meeting in France that included LeBron, his business partner Maverick Carter, and Misko Raznatovic, the agent for Denver Nuggets' star Nikola Jokic. Raznatovic's enigmatic Instagram post after their meeting has ignited wild fan theories and significant media focus on LeBron's future with the Lakers. LeBron James could enter 2026 free agency after his $52.6 million player option ends On Instagram, Misko Raznatovic uploaded a picture of himself alongside LeBron James and Maverick Carter, captioning it, "The summer of 2025 is the perfect time to make big plans for the fall of 2026!" It is a very interesting statement which promptly raised eagerness in the basketball industry. With LeBron set to become a free agent in 2026 after exercising the option of the final year of his contract in 2025-26, which expires at the base of 52.6 million, the date of this assembly and the mention of 2026 has caused some fans and commentators to speculate that the player could be leaving Los Angeles. The meeting was held in France, although the specific purpose is still not clear. Nevertheless, the people involved—LeBron, a four-time NBA champion; Carter, his longtime business associate; and Raznatovic, the agent of a three-time MVP—imply that important career decisions might be in the works. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo LeBron James had great numbers last season but this is not enough for keeping him LeBron James joined the Lakers back in 2018, bringing his incredible talent and leadership to a franchise that was hungry to regain its championship status. He delivered in 2020, leading the team to an NBA title in the Orlando bubble. Since then, though, the Lakers have had a tough time keeping up their success, with injuries and roster changes getting in the way. Nevertheless, LeBron has continued to shine at an elite level. In the 2024-25 season, he put up averages of 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists, earning him All-NBA Second Team recognition. Now kicking off his 23rd NBA season—a record-setting milestone—LeBron continues to dominate on the court. Still, his future with the Lakers is being questioned after he chose to exercise his $52.6 million player option for 2025-26. Reports are emerging that the Lakers' front office is turning its attention to a younger star, Luka Doncic, who was acquired in a significant trade in 2025. This change in direction might indicate a new phase for the Lakers—one that could conflict with LeBron's short-term objectives. In an ESPN interview, Rich Paul, who is LeBron's agent, discussed this tension — 'LeBron wants to compete for a championship. He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all' Also Read: 'It's one Steph Curry' — DeMar DeRozan says copying Golden State Warriors star is misleading for Hoopers For the Lakers, deciding to let LeBron leave in 2026 could be a smart strategy. By letting his contract expire, they would free up cap space to go after stars in a competitive 2026 free-agent class. Reports suggest that Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the Milwaukee Bucks is unclear, and the Nuggets' president has hinted at the possibility of trading Jokic if salary cap challenges come up. These situations might encourage the Lakers to pursue Jokic, pairing him with Doncic to create a powerful duo. FAQs What did Misko Raznatovic post on Instagram? He shared a photo with LeBron James and Maverick Carter with a caption teasing "big plans for fall 2026." Could LeBron retire after 2026? It's possible, as the 2026 season could be his last before retirement. What are fans saying about LeBron possibly joining Denver? Many are excited about the possibility and think it would form an unstoppable duo. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
