JOHN RAE-GRANT

I've been a software geek since the early days, and have been lucky to be well placed to see the rise of the Geeks from backoffice to center stage.  

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Since mid-2020, I've been leading Developer Experience at DataStax, helping DataStax to "get" developers.  I've led Developer Relations and Product Management through the transition from self-managed to Cloud and self-service.

 

Between 2013 and 2019, I spent six years at Google, working as Lead Product Manager on Gmail, Google Play Services, and Cloud DevOps.

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I began my career with ten formative years at Microsoft, growing up with the company from 1986 to 1996.  

I was lucky to be a key member of the management team which led Visual C++ releases 1.0 through 4.0, setting the stage for Visual Studio. My final job at Microsoft was as Business Unit Manager of the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN).

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In between those two behemoths, I was a consultant to many software companies, working on strategy development, leadership development, strategic alignment, and executive teamwork ("The Art of Work").  I also practiced what I preached as a principal within several start-ups, including the NRG Group, Apex Nanotechnologies, Zazengo, and Glooey.

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I've been told that I am a unique blend of strategist, technologist and psychologist, who inspires cold hard reasoning backed with passionate commitment.  

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