Donald Long Email & Phone Number

I have spent virtually all my working life in the IT industries in South Africa and New Zealand, and in that time have worked in pretty much every sphere of the IT "Multiverse". Technical, Corporate, Distribution, IT Business Owner, Professional Services, Strategy and Strategic Consulting, Solutions and Services Reseller, Global Software Vendor, Technical Pre-sales, Practice Management, IT Operations Management, Business Unit and People Management.... you name it.With over 34 years of experience in the ever-changing IT industry, the past 23 of which have been in New Zealand, I have gained an extensive knowledge of the ever-changing technology environment, how it functions, and how it evolves.This extensive and varied background allows me to see the "Big Picture", without losing focus on detail.If asked what I consider to be my specialty, I believe that my true strength is in front of and engaged with the customer, representing either my own capabilities, or those of the IT professionals in the Service-lines or Service Practices that I represent.My enduring passion for the IT industry is largely fuelled by the satisfaction that I get from working with customers to help them determine where they want to take their business, and the best strategic fit for relevant technologies that will deliver the business outcomes they want and need.These insights help me to help them in building a roadmap of projects and/or engagements that will be required on their journey.Then working with them in delivering against the vision!I strive to be an advocate for my organisation in the customer, and at the same time acting as a customer advocate into my organisation, all the while maintaining the fine balance required to "do the right thing" for both, without compromising either.I pride myself on the reputation that I have earned and maintain among both my customers and my peer network of colleagues, partners and competitors, of being a "Straight-shooter". Someone who backs up his words with actions, his commitments with consistent delivery and believes that setting high expectations and consistently exceeding them is a far better approach than intentionally under-promising and setting a soft target as a way of ensuring over-delivery.Vision without execution, is delusion!

Listed skills include It Strategy, Pre Sales, Cloud Computing, Virtualization, and 46 others.