The Natural Problem Solver

I also really find it interesting that you work for IBM because I actually worked as a value-added reseller, or they called it something else, I think, in the 80s. It’s been a while and I loved working around the IBM complex because you just felt like it was just the cutting edge and we wore our little white shirts and our scarves and our, you know, the typical blue suits and it was just so exciting to be there during that time and I just want to hear what your experience is like there.

Oh, you know, it’s so hilarious because yes, I too wore the obligatory dark blue suit, white shirt, fluffy silk tie.

Red.

And I fit right in. And IBM had this federal systems business where we were working on national problems. You know, IBM, I loved the ethos and remember the motto, “Think.” I mean, who can’t buy into a basic culture that says think? And so IBM had been inventing the groundbreaking technology of the time in computing and said, “Well, let’s make our technologies available to the needs of the US government.”
And actually, an interesting thing, Diane was something else that resonated with me. They said, “And by the way, we’re not doing this for profit. Yes, we need to make a reasonable profit, but we’ll not overcharge for our services. This is about serving a national priority need.”
So, I had the chance to work in areas of space and defense, ultimately leading into working with law enforcement on biometric systems or customs and border protection on cargo systems as we worked on security issues.
So, problem after problem where technology could be used to actually do something that was previously impossible. I was totally hooked.