{"id":2463,"date":"2012-03-02T10:53:49","date_gmt":"2012-03-02T17:53:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.ups.edu\/cesblogs\/?p=2463"},"modified":"2017-12-07T18:06:36","modified_gmt":"2017-12-07T18:06:36","slug":"tech-industry-titan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.pugetsound.edu\/cesblogs\/2012\/03\/02\/tech-industry-titan\/","title":{"rendered":"Tech Industry Titan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite his associations with Netscape and Mozilla, Lloyd Tabb<\/a>\u2014Puget Sound parent, and technology entrepreneur from Silicon Valley\u2014insists that his career is based on doing unglamorous work. He avoids trendy, overly-saturated areas and hones in on projects that need to be done, but which others may not find attractive.<\/p>\n

Using this approach, Lloyd has successfully launched numerous start-ups (and invested in even more), including one that led to his appointment as principal architect at Netscape, and becoming a co-founder of Mozilla.org.<\/p>\n

Career and Employment Services (CES) hosted Lloyd for a day of presentations and conversations. What other insight did this tech titan have to offer?
\n<\/p>\n

Build a trail<\/strong>
\n\u201cIf [an employer] is interviewing two candidates, and one has a portfolio demonstrating what he has produced or made, and the other does not, which of the two do you think will get hired?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lloyd pressed the importance of building a ‘trail’\u2014a portfolio of your work and productions…
\n\u201cIt really doesn\u2019t matter what you are making. Write a book, paint art, make a video game, or write software and get it up on the web where it can be found.\u201d Make it accessible and available and start building a trail to show who you are and the skills you possess, especially “rare skills.<\/a>”<\/p>\n

“We’re all leaving a trail. The more impressive that presence, the more likely you are to be hired. Don’t just say something\u2014make something.\u201d<\/p>\n

Data: know it, love it, live it<\/strong>
\nLloyd\u2019s career is focused on all things data (analysis, visualization, and mining to name a few). He encouraged Puget Sound students to become comfortable working with data, and develop the ability to manage and analyze it.<\/p>\n

\u201cCompanies in Silicon Valley are always looking for folks who can analyze and interpret data.\u201d Companies are overwhelmed (too much data, not enough knowledge on how to interpret it) and if you know how to work with data\u2014identify trends and patterns, manage it in a database, etc.\u2014you will be in high demand.<\/p>\n

Find your tribe<\/strong>
\nEven as a lifetime entrepreneur, Lloyd\u2019s career started at a large corporation, where many of the days’ IT thought leaders were working. He met individuals who he admired and trusted, built out his network and created a ‘tribe.’<\/p>\n

Lloyd describes a tribe as a group of individuals with whom you can launch a business or share entrepreneurial ideas. A tribe\u2014comprised of individuals possessing unique skills and interests\u2014can produce a better product or service than any one member of the tribe could do alone.<\/p>\n

Now, 25 years later, when Lloyd is launching a new business, he knows who to approach because he has a tribe to cover areas beyond his realm of knowledge or expertise.<\/p>\n

Lloyd was also very encouraging of the idea of working at a big company early in your career, even if you know you want to start your own business. Big companies provide an opportunity to learn about the industry while considering your own approach. If you take this path, pay close attention to what you are gaining from the experience. Then, when you’re ready, set out with your newly-developed tribe.<\/p>\n

…It’s not about you<\/strong>
\nLloyd emphasized that it is extremely important to remember (whether you are working for a big company, or for yourself) that it is never about you. Your focus should always be on the company and its success. When the organization you work for (or own) looks good, so do you<\/em>.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Lloyd\u2019s List of Rare Skills<\/strong>
\nLloyd provided a list of what he considers to be rare skills in today\u2019s work world. If you possess one of these skills or attributes, you are going to be in high demand. It’s worth focusing on and developing them:<\/p>\n