Reed Hastings Joins Microsoft Board

Reed Hastings, founder and CEO of Netflix, and a renowned serial entrepreneur in Silicon Valley is joining Microsoft’s Board. It’s a superb move for Microsoft to bring on board a through-and-through decent and no-bullshit smart guy like Reed on, not to mention the fact that the battle for the consumers’ living room is in full blast right now, and Microsoft is probably eyeing a partnership with Netflix. Hell, an acquisition could be nice too, but would that mean a conflict of interest for Reed, to sell Netflix to Microsoft?

Reed Hastings is much more than Netflix, though. He is an active educational philanthropist and board member of many non-profits. In addition, he was President of the California State Board of Education from 2000 to 2004. He has led successful statewide political campaigns for more charter public schools and easier passage of local school bonds. Reed served in the U.S. Peace Corps as a high school math teacher in Swaziland.

There are few entrepreneurs around who has thought more deeply about education, and his arriving in close proximity to Bill Gates would be beneficial in more ways than one, for Microsoft, as well as, for the Gates Foundation, and its Education charter.

I am thrilled that Reed is finding the platforms necessary to make his impact.