“Make iTechies Professionals Again”: An Open Letter to Elon Musk, Sergey Brin, and Mark Zuckerberg

Dear Elon, Sergey, and Mark,

Greetings.

I am writing to you today to seek help with a crucial issue facing the IT industry: the dilution of the professional IT workforce. There are currently too many non-technical or non-practicing managers and managers of managers with the army of worker bees/ants, in comparison to hands-on mature technologists, as you are painfully aware.

You, Elon, have voiced for “hardcore engineers” within your recently acquired entity.

And, Mark, you’ve spoken out against having too many managers of managers.

Finally, Sergey, Are you aware of the big news story published about your recent code change request? Will there be a news story if a multi-hospital-owning Gastroenterologist attends a patient with a colon problem? Would anyone be interested to see that doctor in a gown with a gloved hand ready to inspect a pants-down patient on his stomach? Why our profession be different?

I know that you, more than most, understand the importance of technical excellence in our IT industry.

That’s why I am proposing a “Make iTechies Professionals Again” movement, which would create standards and credentials for IT professionals similar to American Medical Association or Bar Association. I believe it’s time to bring back professionalism in the IT industry. This will lead to a more skilled, competent, and accountable workforce.

The words “guild” and “association” might sound old-fashioned, but: doctors have the AMA, lawyers have the ABA, Professional Golfers have PGA, and why not us, IT professionals? It should be a voluntary, inclusive association that unites IT professionals, promotes best practices, and sets standards for the industry.

I believe the three of you could take the lead in starting this movement, it would benefit not just our IT industry but the global economy. It’s time to break the cycle of the manager of the managers of managers (to the power of 10) tyranny and create a viable ecosystem of fully developed and mature professionals working effectively together, the same as Doctors, Lawyers, or Golfers.

So, what do you say? Are you ready to help “Make iTechies Professionals Again”?

Best regards,

Ramaiah Radhakrishnan

(On behalf of thousands of silent majority nerds)

PS: These opinions are my own and not of my employer or family or friends.