Today I had what I think will be my biggest SUN moment ever. In the
break of the Operating Systems Ambassador conference held at the Menlo Park campus, I walked down to
grab a cup of coffee and before I realized it I was in line with Jonathan Schwartz,
our CEO, and Don Grantham, Exective Vice President, Global Sales &
Services. I friendly knodded at both men and Jonathan said a friendly
'Hello'.
So I got to talk to Jonathan Schwartz!! And now you think this was all, right? Ah, no, because -being in the US all week and seeing how my American fellow SUNnies act in these kind of situations- I couldn't resist telling Jonathan: 'I think you were great on stage earlier this week' (referring to his appearance at CEC). And quickly realizing that Don Grantham was there too, I looked at him and said: 'And you too, by the way'.
Don smiled and said: 'You did that in the right order!'. Jonathan smiled too and said: 'Really? Thank you. Why?'.
For a moment I hesitated but then I decided to just tell him why. 'Because it is great to actually feel the community spirit everybody is talking about. To see you on stage talking about communities, the relevance of us geeks and to feel the drive you have, the one goal we're all after, and seeing that all come together at CEC'.
I still wonder where I got all that from
. Jonathan smiled again and asked:
'Where are you from'? I replied that I come from Holland and
immediately Jonathan asked: 'How's business in Holland?'. An email I got
earlier this day from our country director saved me because now I could
immediately reply: 'I just got an email from the Dutch country director
telling me that we made the quarter'. Jonathan smiled again and said:
'That must feel good. Let us know what we can do to help making the
next quarter'.
And, wondering off with Don, he added: '... and thanks for the compliment!' .
What a great company, where the CEO does stand in line for coffee and interacts with his employees!!
Next time I'll blog about what this all is about building communities, and why that is so important to SUN.
So I got to talk to Jonathan Schwartz!! And now you think this was all, right? Ah, no, because -being in the US all week and seeing how my American fellow SUNnies act in these kind of situations- I couldn't resist telling Jonathan: 'I think you were great on stage earlier this week' (referring to his appearance at CEC). And quickly realizing that Don Grantham was there too, I looked at him and said: 'And you too, by the way'.
Don smiled and said: 'You did that in the right order!'. Jonathan smiled too and said: 'Really? Thank you. Why?'.
For a moment I hesitated but then I decided to just tell him why. 'Because it is great to actually feel the community spirit everybody is talking about. To see you on stage talking about communities, the relevance of us geeks and to feel the drive you have, the one goal we're all after, and seeing that all come together at CEC'.
I still wonder where I got all that from
. Jonathan smiled again and asked:
'Where are you from'? I replied that I come from Holland and
immediately Jonathan asked: 'How's business in Holland?'. An email I got
earlier this day from our country director saved me because now I could
immediately reply: 'I just got an email from the Dutch country director
telling me that we made the quarter'. Jonathan smiled again and said:
'That must feel good. Let us know what we can do to help making the
next quarter'.And, wondering off with Don, he added: '... and thanks for the compliment!' .
What a great company, where the CEO does stand in line for coffee and interacts with his employees!!
Next time I'll blog about what this all is about building communities, and why that is so important to SUN.