Sam Varghese
Thursday, 29 October 2009 06:03
Opinion and Analysis
Page 1 of 3
Nick Hodge is, in many way, the modern face of Microsoft, a techie with excellent social skills. He has an additional attribute - a catchy designation: Professional Geek.
He invented that himself. "I invented (it) whilst on a long flight back from the US in February 2007," he told iTWire in an interview. "I am a geek; out geek and product; and professional as Microsoft was paying me to be a geek."
Hodge says Frank Arrigo changed the company's internal HR system to reflect his title change, and he printed his business cards.
"Now it has moved from internal paperwork to legend. It is a good conversation starter. One day, all geeks should have the designation Professional Geek," he says.
"I think the 'nerdish/geekish/dorkish' socially inept persona as popularised in modern media does not reflect the real world. From my first day at work, I have always interacted with customers. If you are not friendly, approachable and socially able, you do not last long in a job, no matter the role or organisation."
One normally encounters Hodge at gatherings where he is trying to spread the word about Microsoft's forays into the open source world.
An earnest, highly intelligent, bespectacled 40-something, Hodge is an excellent communicator who is also a good listener. He is patient and very much aware that he has a difficult role.
"Microsoft is changing as the environment changes," is how he puts it. "If customers are using open source tools and technologies, Microsoft has to respect this choice.
"I sort of evolved into this job by my history (of) using free and open source tools for many years. And, thankfully, Microsoft permits me to pragmatically continue to do so.
"In my role, it is a two-way job. Being a conduit of information both out of Microsoft and just as importantly, reflecting what is on the outside back in. Pleasingly, people in head office want to hear from 'the field' and this impacts choices made. Being a small part of this change is what makes this job worthwhile."
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