Steve Ballmer gets called “Bill” at Oxford
Microsoft’s former chief exec and dancing man Steve Ballmer appeared at Said Business School, Oxford today to talk in front of a packed audience of students. He refrained from doing one of his signature dancing entrances but certainly wasn’t lacking in energy, characteristically whooping, clapping enthusiastically and calling people “dude” where possible.
But even his passion could stop host Professor Peter Tufano from referring to Steve as “Bill” several times – clearly forgetting it wasn’t Microsoft’s founder Bill Gates sitting in the seat opposite.
When Tufano was introducing the newly departed chief executive he said "Bill", but covered it up expertly and chances are, no one noticed.
But at the very end, just as Tufano was wrapping up following Ballmer’s speech about the importance of luck, he said: “Here at the school, we can’t give you luck but we can give you ideas…I can’t think of a better way than today, to get people like Bill (gesturing at Steve Ballmer) to come in…”
Steve reminded him, chuckling, rubbing his bald head and saying “people do say we look alike.”
The hall erupted in laughter.
Jolly good he’s such a great sport…