The Long, Strange Trip of a Technologist

Earlier this week, we published our profile of Alan Goldstein, CIO of BNY Mellon Asset Management and International. Alan proved to be an interesting guy.

Prior to joining the technology ranks, he wanted to be a doctor. In order to get some real-world experience he stopped his schooling and became an emergency medical technician (EMT). Long story (which I hope you read) short, he decided that the field of medicine wasn't what he thought it would be, and on a friend's advice he started studying computers. The rest, as they say, is history.

The most fun part of my job is getting to sit down with CIOs and hear about how they got into the business. Many take the traditional path and get a degree in computer science or engineering.

While those are great stories, too, it's always fun to hear about those who took the road less traveled—such as riding in an ambulance through the streets of San Francisco, ala Alan Goldstein. Or, there's the International Stock Exchange's Danny Friel, who was studying to become a priest before finding religion in technology.

It just goes to show you that you don't always have to grab the A-student from MIT to find an outstanding technologist. If you know a CIO, CTO or even a CEO with an interesting story to tell, please shoot me an email at [email protected] or give me a call at 212-457-7762.

In the meantime, be sure to check out Sitanta Ni Mathghamhna's post on IT spending for 2011-2013, Faye Kilburn's post on how regulation is the key challenge for the Nordic fund industry, and any of the numerous people moves from the past week.