1000 days (+ 205 days WFH)
Posted: October 4, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: AWS Leave a commentA little milestone just crept up, 1000 days at AWS.
Today also marks 205 days since I’ve been in “Work From Home” (WFH) mode. My little workspace has served me well so far.
Another milestone I’m closing in on, is 200 hiring events during my time at AWS. It hasn’t just been for roles in my team, as we do support hiring different roles across the business. I’ve met terrific folks throughout the process and have been so happy to seem many of them join AWS. Since we’ve been in “lockdown”, a number of folks have join the team and it’s been so good to see them jump inget on with the job despite the rather weird situation of working from home. We have had to adjust how we communicate as a team, but I feel it’s brought us all closer together.
One other little milestone is to do with collecting little “achievement” icons. I’ve got a bunch of them, and my t-shirt is a reminder that I will go to great lengths for my “flair”
When I wrote about my 700 Day milestone, I had no idea what 2020 would have in store.
What! A! Crazy! Year! and we’re still not done.
So, 1000 days down, but it’s still day one.
700 Days with an unexpected twist!
Posted: December 9, 2019 Filed under: AWS, Personal Leave a commentToday is my 700th day at AWS. Nice round number eh? 1 year, 11 months since I started! The team has grown, with new hires in Melbourne, Sydney & Brisbane (and Perth). It’s been a wild ride, or should I say a wild ryde š¦.
Now, the twist is that my daughter Emma is starting today at AWS as an intern!
Photographic proof – It’s Emma at AWS
If someone had told me that would be the case 700 days ago, I would not have believed it! In retrospect it’s kinda obvious that this was going to happen.
When Jeff met Emma
I’m sure she will have a lot to say about her day – but I just couldn’t resist a post to celebrate both milestones, as I join an exclusive group.
500 (aka D) days
Posted: May 23, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a comment
Today I mark 500 days at AWS.Ā Why D? Well that’s 500 in roman numerals – Duh!
Those 500 days have really flown by.
I continue to lead a team of Solutions Architects who help customers on their cloud journey,Ā and my scope increased in 2019, so I now also lead teams based in NSW & QLD.
We recently held AWS Sydney Summit and I was a guest on AWS Summit Live on TwitchĀ in which I was interviewed by the team about the upcoming Build Track which I curated together with Kris HowardĀ (who was also one of the hosts for AWS Summit Live)
Still getting the hang of what it means to be an Amazonian. There’s a lots to learn.
If I were to use the “hero journey” to describe my time so far, I’ve definitely crossed the threshold into the “Extraordinary world”
So as I continue my journey, the thing that will help push me through those inevitable challenges is knowing that I am helping advance the cause for the local industry, helping AustralianĀ companies embrace the opportunities of the cloud, and see them compete & excel globally. I love meeting and helping local companies who have global customers, delivering great value, and providing employment opportunities for skilled local folks.
100 days, but still Day One
Posted: April 18, 2018 Filed under: AWS, Geek | Tags: AWS Leave a commentI’ve just hit 100 days with AWS.
It’s been a mix of on-boarding, travel, working with my team, learning what needs to be done, and culminated with a few days last week at AWS Summit in SYDNEY
Looking back at my TripIt stats, it kinda says it all…..
| 2018 TRAVEL STATS | |
| Trips | 8 |
| Days | 38 |
| Distance | 54,682 km |
| Cities | 7 |
| Countries | 4 |
Since starting the new role, I’ve been on the look out for a new avatar.Ā I had to leave my old ones, and I had been using a temporary one which I kinda liked (can anyone guess where it’s from?)
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So I need a new look.
I had a bright idea — I went to fiverr, and using the same photo, I got a few different avatars. I tried Simpsons style, Archer style, flat style, shadowy, artistic, cartoony, but I must admit I really really love the Bob’s Burger style –Ā So that’s the one in the top left…Ā My family reckons is a good likeness too – it’s a keeper. Expect to see it everywhere
And speaking of seeing it everywhere, I helped designed a burger for Royal Stacks (Yes i know right).Ā It’s called the QWERTY, and available only for the month of April! The burger is pretty awesome if I say so myself š #AchievementUnlocked š
Now, one of the things that has really struck me is that Amazon, and therefore AWS, is that it is a bit “peculiar”. I like that, maybe because I’m a bit peculiar too. I’ve always felt like the odd one out. Now I feel I’m among “my” people, and the things that really contributes to this is the collection of Amazon Leadership Principles – they are not just a sign on a wall, but something used every day at Amazon. Some of these principles represent things that are inside a person (call it values if you will) and some are learnt behaviours. As a result, there’s a common sense of purpose, a common language, a virtual shorthand that unites everyone.
100 days down. Onwards to the next 100 days, and then the next after that. But, as they say at Amazon, it’s always Day One!
Leaving Telstra
Posted: December 13, 2017 Filed under: Telstra 4 Comments
1337 d4y5 47 73l57r4
Posted: September 11, 2017 Filed under: Geek, Telstra Leave a comment
It’s been 1337 days since i started at Telstra, to be part of the team working on the API Strategy and it feels appropriateĀ on this 1337 d4y5 1337 d4y5 47 73l57r4 to see the next chapter of the API work be written, with Steve Cooper, aka @DeveloperSteve coming onboard to take this to the next level as theĀ API and Platform Evangelist at Telstra.Ā Welcome Steve – looking forward to seeing things move ahead.
Back in September 2016, I moved into a new roleĀ as a member of the Innovation team at Telstra, in the Chief Technology Office, located in theĀ Gurrowa Innovation Lab in Melbourne.
Well a lot has happened in those 12 months! We built a new team, re-launched the lab with a new sense of purpose & vigor, andĀ began to inspire the next generation
We also hosted many events, and lucky for me,Ā I was able to capture a “moment” of just some of these
- NABLabs Hackathon @ Gurrowa Innovation Lab
- An Evening with Taavi Kotka
- IOT Melbourne Meetup @ TelstraLabs
- #InnovationNation
- What’s Up Berlin?
- What’s Up San Fran?
- @murudau #mel1 mentor night
I also got more connect with the ecosystem andĀ was invited to contribute via a number of initiatives…
- Became a mentor for the CSIRO ON program
- Joined the Austrade Landing Pad Assessment Panel
- Rejoined theĀ Computing and information systems industry advisory group for the University of Melbourne School of Engineering
It’s been a full 12 months, with a lot more to come
3 years on, break out the leather, crystal or glass
Posted: January 13, 2017 Filed under: Personal, Telstra, Uncategorized Leave a comment
We Want You! Hustler, Hacker, Hipster
Posted: December 5, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a comment
I just passed my 90 days in Telstraās Chief Technology Office (CTO) based out of the Gurrowa Innovation Lab in Melbourne.
Itās been a full-on period which included revisiting our WHY (thank you Simon Sinek)
So now that we have a better idea of our WHY, weāre looking for a few special folks to come join us.
We are on the hunt for a community manager, who will be āour faceā to the community. From running tours, to hosting events and making the connections between all the diverse communities that Telstra is part of; and they need a bit of hustle.
We also need an innovation hacker, a cross between a āhackerā and a āhipsterā, who can use digital marketing tools and techniques to drive rapid experimentation, which will help test & validate ideas.
These folks will be joining a growing team of entrepreneurial minded people, including Facilitation and Design specialists who believe that by working together, we can discover the insights and technologies that will pay dividends back to Australian businesses, and reaffirm our nationās position on the world stage as a bold and vital innovator.
So if you think youāre part of this dream team, based in Melbourne, reach out and tell us why.
1,000 Days
Posted: October 9, 2016 Filed under: Personal, Telstra 2 Comments
I’ve just clocked over 1000 days at Telstra.Ā It’s gonna get hard to play the “I’m new here” card now I guess.
It’s been a journey so far – kinda like the hero journey
A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.
And to be honest, itĀ pretty much sums up what happenedĀ in relation to the API Strategy work — A call to adventure, guardians, mentors, temptations, threats, challenges, revelations,Ā transformations,Ā atonement, a gift of the goddess and eventual return! Yup, pretty much a text book experience.
The journey wasĀ featured in a recent article at the end of July, entitled Telstraās API revolution. Ā It gives a great wrap up of the work to date, and acts as a solid recordĀ of what has been done.
There have been losses along the way, and I wonāt dwell on them all but IĀ do want to mention one of my fellowĀ travellers – Bruce Carney. We both started on the same day – brothers in arms, facing the challenges together. Bruce is no longer with us – he’s part of a new journey with Aussie software darling, Atlassian, and I do wish him well on his next journey.
So I now find myself at a transition point, a time for a new story, with some familiar folks, and some new ones as well.
I am now a member of the Innovation team at Telstra, in the Chief Technology Office, located in the world-class Gurrowa Innovation Lab in Melbourne.
The lab opened in August 2015, with lots of great coverage:
- Telstra opens Gurrowa innovation lab in Melbourne
- Telstra opens Gurrowa Innovation Lab
- Telstra partners with Pivotal, launches innovation lab in Melbourne
- Telstra launches Gurrowa Innovation Lab
The lab is the centerpiece of Telstraās innovation and technology research capabilities. Gurrowa, which means Interchange in the Wurung language, signifies the interchanging of ideas that will take place in this unique co-creation space that will drive the new wave of innovation at Telstra.
It has been the location for projects, events, hackathons over the past year, and with the experience gained over that time, we now have an opportunity to fine tune the way it works and make it AWESOME!
So thatās the new call to adventure. Ā What lies ahead? I donāt fully know, but I do know WHY we’re doing this, and that makes for a fun journey.
Huzzah!
730 Days & 23 trips to Sydney!
Posted: January 13, 2016 Filed under: Personal, Telstra, Uncategorized 1 CommentToday marks 2 years into my time at Telstra , and it’s really zipped along.
I even got inspired toĀ get a “simpsons-style” cartoon of me – the orange hat isĀ a nice touch IĀ think.
The last couple of these types of posts I’ve done have included a bit of a recap –Ā 12 Months InĀ &Ā 546 DaysĀ so I will spareĀ the look back, suffice to say a fair bit of stuff got done – some visible such as T.DEV ,Ā speaker at I ā„ APIS in San Jose, Ā sponsor at Web Directions 2015, judge at Hackfood, author on Telstra Exchange;Ā and some not so, but just as important!!
I also made aĀ a video to be usedĀ for internal training Ā – here’sĀ sneak peak
Oh,Ā and I’ve hadĀ 23 trips to Sydney over these past 2 years. Yes, I did the maths.
OK then, so there areĀ a few things coming up that I am looking forward to…
- Above All HumanĀ – IĀ missed it last year, so IĀ am keen to attend this year.
- Muru-D Sydney Class 3Ā – IĀ was at the recent boot camp helpingĀ some of these startups get ready andĀ IĀ cant wait to see what theyĀ produce!!
- API Days AustraliaĀ in Melbourne, March 1 & 2, with a host of great speakers
What else? There’s a few other things, but I’ll keep’em under my hat for the time being. ItĀ revolves around how developers took over the worldĀ and how we can respond to that.
And did i mentioned I’ve had 23 trips to Sydney !!
