Overview

• Newell says a short Harvard leave turned into a 13-year Microsoft tenure after Steve Ballmer urged him to start working there.
• He attributes his rise in the tech world to “luck” and being surrounded by standout colleagues like Neil Konzen, Doug Klunder and Jeff Harbers.
• Drawing on Microsoft’s rapid, quality-focused ethos, Newell helped shape Valve’s flat structure and led the creation of Half-Life and the Steam platform.
• He describes a daily routine of “get up, work, go scuba diving” that blurs the boundary between work and retirement.
• He signals ongoing involvement in artificial intelligence research and upcoming enhancements to Steam’s platform.