Welcome to my blog. My name is Lee Johns and you can find me on twitter as @StorageOlogist. I have been in the technology industry in a variety of roles for 30 years.
I started my career at Compaq Computer in 1984, so I have been through the growth of the PC business, the advent of Industry Standard Servers the introduction of shared storage, and along the way have also been responsible for bringing to market printers and enterprise software. I have worked for some of the largest technology companies in the world, and also been involved with startups. My most recent role was as the VP of Product Management at Starboard Storage who just, (Jan 2014), sold their technology to SGI.
I also have a degree in Zoology and hence the title of my blog. You see I have found alot of parallels between the theory of Natural Selection (survival of the fittest), and the technology ecosystem in my time running business and marketing groups for technology companies. It applies broadly to a products chance of survival within a corporation, and within the broader market. After all we have all seen the Technology Dinosaurs wiped out by a change in the competitive landscape.
What is interesting is that the real Dinosaurs did not see the meteor coming. The Technology Dinosaurs almost always do. They just can't stop watching the meteor (Competitive Disruption), until it lands on them. My mission in any job I have been in is to make sure that I keep my eyes open, and as soon as I see anything that might be a meteor galvanize support to get out of its way, or mine it for precious metal. IT dollars are precious and you have to find your edge in getting inherently conservative buyers to hand them over.
So what can you expect from this blog? Well I hope to provoke thought. As simple as that. I will obviously be discussing things that happen in the industry but will also cover some things from outside technology which are relevant to the technology industry. Things that I find interesting and I hope you will too.
I am a consultant on the WTCNeed team. and you can find my profile here
A welcome blog indeed! I look forward to hearing more from the StorageOlogist. A degree in Zookeeping? Really?
Posted by: Pat Petroskey | 01/31/2014 at 03:23 PM
Excellent! I look forward to your insights and postings; your background certainly suggests your voice should be heard. And a degree in zookeeping? That should keep it interesting!
Posted by: Pat Petroskey | 01/31/2014 at 03:26 PM
It is Zoology Pat, not Zookeeping. It is the fun part without having to muck out the cages. Much like the role we would all like to have within corporations.
Posted by: StorageOlogist | 01/31/2014 at 03:36 PM