In tech, we celebrate executives of big vendors and we
celebrate entrepreneurs. We often do not recognize executives in the middle.
Those that help entrepreneurs put their trajectories on the right path. those that shepherd companies from $ 100m to a billion. On my
trip to the Bay Area I had a chance to break bread with two executives who may
never show up in the WSJ but in their own ways deserve their share of
recognition.
I met Mike Laven
in Paris in 1989. He was VP of Europe for McCormack and Dodge, which
ended up becoming D&B Software. He then was then at ASK Ingres. Scopus. A string of financial and energy trading software start ups - Infinity, Iris, KWI, now Traiana. A truly global tech executive – he spends as much time in London and New York as he does the Bay Area. He has managed
companies formed with Israeli and English entrepreneurs. Sequoia and Accel
funded companies. Dealt with Indian and E. European vendors. He has negotiated deals with
the Baan brothers and SunGard. It is delightful to spend time with him every
few months. Our conversations, each time in a different city, invariably cover
a wide range of global and technology topics His kids have just as interesting careers and
travel paths, though not in tech. But the key thing is he brings unbelievable
"grey hair" and "wide lens perspective" to every company he has been associated
with.
I then met up with Ashwani Rishi, who heads US operations
for ITC Infotech. ITC is a professional conglomerate which runs Sheraton hotels
in India, paper products, agri-business, and has a growing IT and BPO services business
– while diversifying from its traditional tobacco roots. Influenced by the
analytical discipline of McKinsey associates and Harvard MBAs, it is always fascinating to
hear Ashwani’s views which reflect a balance sheet focused POV on services so
different from the way the Accentures and the Infosyses approach it. Another
fascinating conversation – to hear him talk about the evolution of the Indian
offshore industry – the personalities, the heady growth – he was there when
Infosys crossed the $ 1 billion mark.
Both of them should write books about their respective
experiences in technology. But both are too busy building companies. I am just
grateful I can spend some time with them every so often – and get interesting
peeks at life in the unsung middle – between the large vendors and the early
stage small start ups. There is a Tolkien series waiting to be written on this middle earth.
Comments
Middle Earth Leaders
In tech, we celebrate executives of big vendors and we
celebrate entrepreneurs. We often do not recognize executives in the middle.
Those that help entrepreneurs put their trajectories on the right path. those that shepherd companies from $ 100m to a billion. On my
trip to the Bay Area I had a chance to break bread with two executives who may
never show up in the WSJ but in their own ways deserve their share of
recognition.
I met Mike Laven
in Paris in 1989. He was VP of Europe for McCormack and Dodge, which
ended up becoming D&B Software. He then was then at ASK Ingres. Scopus. A string of financial and energy trading software start ups - Infinity, Iris, KWI, now Traiana. A truly global tech executive – he spends as much time in London and New York as he does the Bay Area. He has managed
companies formed with Israeli and English entrepreneurs. Sequoia and Accel
funded companies. Dealt with Indian and E. European vendors. He has negotiated deals with
the Baan brothers and SunGard. It is delightful to spend time with him every
few months. Our conversations, each time in a different city, invariably cover
a wide range of global and technology topics His kids have just as interesting careers and
travel paths, though not in tech. But the key thing is he brings unbelievable
"grey hair" and "wide lens perspective" to every company he has been associated
with.
I then met up with Ashwani Rishi, who heads US operations
for ITC Infotech. ITC is a professional conglomerate which runs Sheraton hotels
in India, paper products, agri-business, and has a growing IT and BPO services business
– while diversifying from its traditional tobacco roots. Influenced by the
analytical discipline of McKinsey associates and Harvard MBAs, it is always fascinating to
hear Ashwani’s views which reflect a balance sheet focused POV on services so
different from the way the Accentures and the Infosyses approach it. Another
fascinating conversation – to hear him talk about the evolution of the Indian
offshore industry – the personalities, the heady growth – he was there when
Infosys crossed the $ 1 billion mark.
Both of them should write books about their respective
experiences in technology. But both are too busy building companies. I am just
grateful I can spend some time with them every so often – and get interesting
peeks at life in the unsung middle – between the large vendors and the early
stage small start ups. There is a Tolkien series waiting to be written on this middle earth.
Middle Earth Leaders
In tech, we celebrate executives of big vendors and we celebrate entrepreneurs. We often do not recognize executives in the middle. Those that help entrepreneurs put their trajectories on the right path. those that shepherd companies from $ 100m to a billion. On my trip to the Bay Area I had a chance to break bread with two executives who may never show up in the WSJ but in their own ways deserve their share of recognition.
I then met up with Ashwani Rishi, who heads US operations for ITC Infotech. ITC is a professional conglomerate which runs Sheraton hotels in India, paper products, agri-business, and has a growing IT and BPO services business – while diversifying from its traditional tobacco roots. Influenced by the analytical discipline of McKinsey associates and Harvard MBAs, it is always fascinating to hear Ashwani’s views which reflect a balance sheet focused POV on services so different from the way the Accentures and the Infosyses approach it. Another fascinating conversation – to hear him talk about the evolution of the Indian offshore industry – the personalities, the heady growth – he was there when Infosys crossed the $ 1 billion mark.
Both of them should write books about their respective experiences in technology. But both are too busy building companies. I am just grateful I can spend some time with them every so often – and get interesting peeks at life in the unsung middle – between the large vendors and the early stage small start ups. There is a Tolkien series waiting to be written on this middle earth.
December 15, 2006 in Industry Commentary, People Commentary | Permalink