You may have seen our post about MVP Mondays. (If you haven't, now is a good time to read about our new program). But what does it take to become an MVP? Microsoft describes an MVP as an "expert who has an unstoppable urge to get their hands on new, exciting technologies and [whom] love to share their knowledge." Here at 1E, we have not one but FIVE of these masterminds on our team who help contribute to our technology as well as expand our knowledge base. They ask questions, find the answers, and then apply their work to major enterprises.
Shaun Cassells is one of our MVPS. He is a Senior Solutions Engineer at 1E and specializes in analysis, optimization, and design of Configuration Manager and Operations business processes. He's an award-winning blogger on multiple sites and has been a speaker at conferences like MMS, TechEd, and System Center Rallies.
I had a chance to chat with Shaun about the IT industry and he said some things that might surprise you and leave you scratching your head in wonderment.
Mandy (MF):Shaun, what has been your proudest moment with 1E? Shaun (SC): My proudest moment is every day. However, if I were to pick a single moment it would be leading an amazing team to develop application mapping for a customer. A brilliant idea that we were able to drive to a simple solution. Also, applying for a patent. It reminds me of the quote, "If I have seen further, it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants" – Sir Isaac Newton (modernized). Timely— as the product team is releasing a version 2 shortly. MF:What do you think the biggest lack in the IT industry is today? SC: Diversity. I don't only mean race and gender. Rather, ideas. IT has developed a very rigid, "always on" mentality. This makes change hard. Which, is ironic as change is what the IT industry does! Change! We lack the diversity of ideas and vision on how to be better, not just advance in the same direction. Luckily 1E has a group of thought leaders that work insanely well together. We don't always agree but that's part of how ideas grow. We are a group that encourages intellectual curiosity and I am so thankful that my company has that at its core.
MF:So how would you improve this lack? How would you begin to diversify? SC: I have only one idea in a maelstrom of options. My idea is to facilitate communication from those who excel at doing, with those with the power to make a decision. Everyone is always trying to do their best. The stigma of the true, deep, nerd is a failure to communicate effectively with those who create. I hope through networking, gathering information, encouraging rationalization, and then aiding in any possible presentation, that we will all move in a new direction together.
MF:Where do you see the IT Industry in 20 years?
SC: Mentoring has taught me that you want short, medium, and long-term goals. Short: I have tangentially covered above about communication. Medium: Will be software and conference type mediums that allow sharing of ideas in cooperation rather than competition at multiple levels. Now this communication will not be free to all, but those in the know. Long term? These problems won't exist as they do today. Everything changes by degrees, but in 20 years the issues of hardware breakdown, network transmissions, and shared common platform will still exist. But what can we achieve together when it is easier to communicate? I look forward to helping build that over the second half of my career.
There are multiple ways to connect with Shaun and one of them is on his website. He is a valuable resource and is excited to talk to you!
Want to write for 1E? We've made it easy to be a part of a quickly growing environment fostering the ideas and expertise of Microsoft MVPs. Not an MVP? You can still apply to write for us here. We can't wait to hear what you've got to say!
1E offers the only real-time endpoint management solution that helps IT deliver an unparalleled employee experience. Using patented 1E technology and combining the power of 1E’s award-winning product stack, our Tachyon platform gives IT absolute visibility and control of all endpoints, wherever they are located. Designed to support an increasingly remote-first world, the platform only requires a single packet exchange for most operations so it’s faster and more reliable than any other solution. We don’t believe in a rip-and-replace approach to endpoint management, which is why we are rated as a Gold Standard ServiceNow partner and augment your existing investment in Microsoft. All 1E technology is built in-house so we pride ourselves on hiring the best talent in the industry. That’s why more than 1,700 organizations in 42 countries trust 1E to help them manage 14 million endpoints seamlessly.
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