Q. How did you first become interested in tech?
Growing up I wanted to be an electrical engineer. I went to Brooklyn Technical High School in New York, and my dad owned a radio and TV repair shop. So you can say I’ve been a techie since way back.
Q. As chief information officer, what is your role here at Anderson?
My job is to foreshadow technology needs of students, faculty and staff here at Anderson and then to articulate these needs as appropriate investments. This is of course all done to help enable continued innovation at Anderson.
Q. You received your MBA from Michigan Ross and returned to UC Berkeley Haas for a certificate from the CIO Institute. How does it feel to be back in the higher education space?
I’m really excited to be at Anderson and to see the opportunities that lie ahead for leveraging technology here. My wife is an Anderson alumna (Antoinette Reynolds Chandler ’95, chief deputy treasurer of San Diego County), so she’s happy and will probably be my most engaged critic.
Q. What are your thoughts on exposing students to technology at an earlier age?
I think it’s important to teach and expose kids to technology at an early age. There is a certain language and culture around technology that many kids are getting left out of. It’s a different world than the one that I grew up in. It’s a digital world where one’s ability to navigate therein determines, in too many cases, life outcomes for students and adults. Early exposure also helps to demystify technology. This is important because it is at this point that you start to learn how to extract optimum value out of technology.
Q. What are your thoughts on issues of diversity in the technology industry?
It’s a big issue. In many cases the intention is there, but I’m concerned that we’re looking for the one solution to solve it. The fact is, it’s going to take multiple solutions, processes, mentors and resolute leadership to establish appropriate balance. Senior leaders need to have honest, bold and respectful conversations with key stakeholders.
Any effective leader who is of a sound mind should understand that diversity is good. Diverse organizations yield diverse thought processes, it allows for the organically cultivated breeding ground ripe for innovation and competition. The challenge is, how do we get there? Everyone capable and interested should have the opportunity to participate in this exciting space, regardless of what you look like, where you come from and what you believe. Access, however, is key.
I am concerned that companies are decoupling the diversity efforts from the organization’s strategy formulation activity. When this happens, we diminish it and it becomes a project that can be put on a shelf. There are many leaders who don’t take it seriously. On the other side, there are, unfortunately, organizations that have loudly jumped on the “diversity train” for less than authentic and altruistic reasons. This makes for extremely sensitive grounds to tread lightly on. If industry leaders challenge some of these loud voices they are potentially seen as someone who doesn’t care about it. I struggle with this because, at the end of the day, this doesn’t help move the dialogue or dynamics forward.
Q. Technology can be used for good and bad purposes. Is it possible to find a balance?
I’ve always considered myself a frustrated user trapped inside an engineer’s body. I find myself thinking, “Why is this product designed this way?” and,“Do we really need this?” The solution should not always call for leading-edge. Sometimes the best technology is no (or low) technology. Usage of technology should be appropriate and responsible. I’m also concerned that people look past the human factor and get seduced by the machine. Technology is too often getting in the way of the “experience.” Don’t get me wrong, tech is amazing, it’s wonderful. But it does not have a soul, and I think that’s the key. It can do amazing things, but without a soul it can be used to do the most egregious things.
Q. What are your thoughts on the FBI vs. Apple debate?
Generally, I agree with Apple, although I would change the conversation to make it one that says, this is what the FBI needs, now how can we get them what they need without compromising security and privacy? We’ve become too lax on matters of privacy and security. Now that systems are all connected, access to confidential information is easier, thus the exposure level is greater. There is a great downside risk. In other words, these days, an “oops” is potentially a much bigger oops than before.
Q. What are you looking forward to most about future tech innovations?
Given what I’ve already seen and experienced in my life, and seeing how things are evolving, I’m excited about the future of tech. Including Virtual Reality: VR will do a lot in terms of creating incredible immersive environments. The ability to enable someone to establish “presence” someplace without being physically there is mind-boggling. This has a tremendous upside. Watching the evolution of tech has been awe-inspiring. Witnessing society’s learnings while on this journey, however, has been more satisfying. To hear a middle school kid talk about design thinking, ideation and value creation is like a pleasant out-of-body experience for me.
Ron is very interested in meeting members of the community here at Anderson, so please introduce yourself to him at [email protected]
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