Hello! I’m Mitchell Ashley, a new blogger to the NetworkWorld Microsoft Subnet blog community. Though I’m new to the NetworkWorld blogs, I’ve been blogging since July 2006 on my personal blog, The Converging Network . My personal blog is about all the things I’m interested in and work on, mostly how multiple technologies continue to converge and revolutionize the way we think about computing, networking and software. I also co-host the popular podcast After All These Years .
Here’s my “official” bio…
My passions are creating businesses and innovative products, for customers and markets needing a unique approach to solving their business problems, all with highly talented people who are passionate about what they do. I’ve brought to market multiple new security, networking, multi-media and Internet products throughout my career for Fortune 500, SME, B2B and consumer markets. My business, market and technology focus includes networking, security, convergence, virtualization, open source, mobility, VoIP, SaaS and user-centered product design. I love to evangelize this work with analysts, media and customers, and I am fortunate to have appeared in industry publications including USAToday, NetworkWorld, ComputerWorld, InfoWorld, InformationWeek, CRN, and Redmond Magazine, to name a few. I also authored a chapter of the book “Growth Strategies for Software Companies”, and authored many byline articles appearing in industry and technical publications. Most recently I was CTO and General Manager of StillSecure where I led the successful creation and market launch of the industry award winning products Safe Access, Strata Guard, VAM and Cobia UNP. In addition to StillSecure, I also co-founded BoldTech Systems, a world recognized leader in software integration for telecommunications, and played an early leadership role in building and growing Jato Communications, a national data broadband access network provider with over 450 points-of-presence. Currently, I’m working through my company, Converging Network, LLC, to help emerging companies develop successful product, technology and business strategies. I also mentor other entrepreneurs and companies as a way to give back to those who helped me throughout my career.
I’ve been invited to join the NetworkWorld blogs to share my views about Microsoft and my experiences utilizing Microsoft technologies in IT, products and businesses. You’ll find that I have my biases but I’m not a Microsoft zelot, nor a Microsoft hater. I run Microsoft products in my own network and business. Bottom line, I call ’em like I see ’em, whether or not it favors the folks in Redmond, at Cisco, or any other vendor. I have a lot of friends and collegues that use Microsoft, Linux and many other technologies every day. I’ll be sharing ideas, views, problems and suggestions of theirs from time to time. If you have thoughts or questions about starting a business, I’m happy to share those experiences with you too.
Most importantly, I’m here to do my part to help build the community of bloggers, commenters and readers at the NetworkWorld Microsoft Subnet site. If you are interested writing a guest post, starting your own blog, have a comment, or just want to read when it interests you, I encourage you to do so. If you agree with what I have to say, great. If you disagree, even better. The dialog and exchange of ideas is what makes us all better at our craft, and ultimately moves the ball down field for everyone.
So please join me and participate in whatever way you chose as I begin this new phase of my blogging on NetworkWorld.
Thanks for coming along!
Mitchell
