Amid H1B visa debate, Bill Gates credits 15 Indian engineers for transforming Microsoft in viral old video

Bill Gates at IIT Delhi

In the middle of intense global discussion about H1B visas, an old video featuring Bill Gates has become a viral sensation. The clip, which has been widely circulated on social media, shows the Microsoft co-founder reflecting on an important moment from his company's early history, the decision to hire engineers from India. This choice, which was met with doubt at the time, turned out to be "a phenomenal thing."

The video is from a talk Bill Gates gave at IIT Delhi in February 2024. He recounts a time when Microsoft was still a young company with only a few hundred employees and was struggling to find top-tier engineering talent. A senior colleague made a bold suggestion to travel to India and hire about 15 graduates from the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to boost the company's technical strength.

Gates says he found the idea to be "good," showing his open-mindedness to finding talent in new places. However, the decision faced a lot of criticism. In India, the media called it "brain drain," worried that the country's brightest minds were leaving. At the same time, the US media raised concerns about foreign workers "taking" American jobs, a worry that is still heard in today's immigration debates.

Looking back with more than 25 years of hindsight, Gates concluded that bringing in these Indian engineers was a huge success. His simple but powerful statement that it was a "phenomenal thing" is a direct response to the worries currently swirling around skilled immigration.

This resurfacing of the clip is especially timely. Countries are currently debating how to balance protecting local jobs with attracting the global talent needed for innovation and economic growth. The H1B visa program, in particular, is at the heart of this argument. Opponents claim it takes jobs away from Americans, while supporters say it fills critical skill gaps and helps drive technology forward.

Bill Gates's story from a quarter-century ago offers a valuable lesson that the movement of skilled people across borders isn't a zero-sum game. The talent that came from India not only made Microsoft stronger but also contributed to the very innovations that have shaped the modern world. Many of those early hires went on to become leaders in the technology industry, creating new companies and opportunities in both the US and India.

As the H1B visa debate continues, Gates's personal experience provides a powerful, human argument for the lasting value of welcoming talented people, no matter where they come from.