9 years and 2 months ago I started on a very exciting journey with PlusNet.
I started off as the sole developer, establishing what is now PlusNet's Workplace solution. Workplace is the software solution which pretty much controls everything within PlusNet. It includes the customer management, product management, billing engine and internal calendaring functionality amongst other things. It also ties together the network and software pieces of the business so we have a single platform - and not multiple systems that don't talk to each other.
Since then I've been privileged to work with some of the best people I could ever imagine working with, on projects that were both exciting and personally rewarding.
Together we built Workplace, the customer self-serve environment, the industry-leading traffic management solution and an open & honest business which is totally transparent to its customer base. More importantly we built a team.
In the early years - my hands were dirty. I think the developers today are still looking at the code I wrote back then with dismay. ;)
In the latter years, they wisely took me away from the code and allowed me to focus on new technology and strategy. 3 years ago I became the CIO of PlusNet and have been fortunate to have met some of the most creative and innovative people in the industry - who have shown me what the future looks like.
This week sees another chapter in my life as I am now moving on to new things.
Why?
For me, 2008 is very similar to 1999 (when I started). Today, the 2nd wave of the dot com era is here and promises to be even more exciting than the last one.
Software as a Service (SaaS), social networking and mobile applications are starting to become the norm and as such promise tremendous opportunities and exciting times. And frankly it's an opportunity that I find too good to pass up on.
So I have decided to leave the comfort of a great position in a fantastic company with superb people to work alone in my attic for too many hours a day - having written that I'm now thinking I made the wrong decision. :-)
Honestly, its testament to what a great place PlusNet is that I lasted 9 years and 2 months (I had originally intended to only work for 3-6 months and then travel the world).
So with that, I would like to thank all current and past colleagues and customers for their contribution in making me who I am today and allowing me to work with them. It's been a chapter in my life that I would not change for the world and there are memories (good and bad) that I will hold onto for as long as I can.
Regards,
Dean
