My thoughts and insights on topics of interest to me…

Dec 2, 2016

What is a Data Scientist? I know I am not one…

Below is a lovely infographic of what it takes to be a data scientist. I can say that I have plenty of the domain knowledge, soft skills and a good amount of communication skills, but bayesian inference — please.

Paul Oliver

Nov 28, 2016

Always behind the Curve

You just think that you and your company are so behind everyone else.

Behind in technology or unable to get the most out of the technology you have in place.

Paul Oliver

Nov 8, 2016

Article review -How to Use the Single, Most Powerful Word in Business

While this article from Inc.com counters my post from a few years ago Rule #3 ask three times to get to a yes, however, I believe both are valid.

Paul Oliver

Oct 29, 2016

Management Style

When I first moved into a leadership role, my style was inclusionary to a point. That point was when I felt decision was taking too long. Well that is how I would rationalize it.

Paul Oliver

Oct 23, 2016

To Cloud or not to Cloud

Don’t be silly of course — you must head to the cloud.

Well, yes, we should head to the cloud, but carefully, cautiously and when we are ready.

No — leap now.

Paul Oliver

Aug 24, 2016

Article Review: Leaders don’t manage time, they manage choices

Right on the mark was my first thought when I read this article. Now doubt not only are choices what leaders manage, it is what leaders bring to the table.

Paul Oliver

Aug 9, 2016

Article Review: IT is in a fight for its life

Red Hat’s CEO hit the nail on the head in this interview about IT or at-least what we describe as IT for mid-size to enterprise companies is going the way of typewriter. Even hipsters entrepreneurs cannot bring it back.

Paul Oliver

Jun 14, 2016

Well, when I was a CIO — yada, yada

Last time I was a CIO was 5 years ago. Dwelling today on how I would go about prioritizing and selecting solutions I see some pretty startling changes.

My process 5 years ago would have been -

internet search on the…

Paul Oliver

Feb 16, 2016

My Top Book Recommendations — 2016

I read 2–3 books a month. These are what stay on my shelf — actual books I buy to keep on my shelf — yes I killed a tree or two for these.

No particular order of priority.

Paul Oliver

Feb 1, 2015

Who will be Sherlock to IBM’s Watson

First, bring up the bloody Jeopardy show and I will beat you with a twitter whip stick. Yes in full disclosure my job is selling IBM solutions, but mentioning IBM Watson and Jeopardy is like talking how good your mobile device makes phone calls.