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On February 3rd, 2009, Michael Dell, founder, Chairman of the Board and Chief Exceutive Officer, Dell Inc., gave the keynote at Northern Virginia Technology Council’s Premier Titans Series luncheon. Over 700 executives representing all aspects of Northern Virginia’s technology industry gathered at the Mclean Hilton for the event.

The state of the global economy frequently came up during the discussion, with Dell seeing the economic stimulus package currently being debated in Congress as an opportunity to make the US more technologically competitive. Some ways to do this included investment in a to-the-home broadband or fiber network similar to the networks found in many Asian countries, ensuring that technology continues to be integrated into the education system, and providing a favorable environment for green technologies.

Within the public sector, he singled out the healthcare industry as an area where technology has the potential to play a transformative role, noting that many grocery stores have more technology than you would find in a doctor’s office. Technology, he argued, could both dramatically lower service delivery costs through increased efficiency, and could also improve healthcare outcomes by reducing errors, enabling more effecting tracking, and ensuring portability of health records.

When his discussion turned to the future of the IT industry, some of the trends Dell was most excited about included mobile computing, virtualization, cloud computing and bio-informatics. Disagreeing with Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo that the mobile phone represents the future of computing, Dell believes that even as demand for small, portable devices surges, the limitations of a small screen and interface will lead to a similar, conter-trend toward devices with larger screens and full-scale interfaces. As such, Dell plans to continue building technologies that fall everywhere along the size spectrum.

Despite economic gloom, Michael Dell remains irrepresibly optimistic, concluding the session by saying that the one thing that excites him most about the future of IT is that technology still has the power to change the world. And judging from the reaction in the room, the leaders of Northern Virginia’s tehcnology industry couldn’t agree more.

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Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a luncheon hosted by the DC chapter of the Association for Women in Communication, featuring a talk by Rebecca Shambaugh, author of It’s Not A Glass Ceiling, It’s A Sticky Floor. In a room of about 40 women, Ms. Shambaugh’s easy and personable speaking style made it feel like a group of friends having just having lunch and chatting. We discussed the seven ââ?¬Ë?sticky floors’ that inhibit women from reaching their full potential in the work world, including:

• Perfectionism,?? A lot of women spend so much time in the tiny details that they neglect the overall picture of individual projects and the workplace in general. We need to learn to embrace ââ?¬Ë?good enough’!
• Asking for what you want,?? This is a tough one for many women, whether it’s asking for a promotion, a bonus, or even more face time in front of key clients, many women are held back because they don’t know how to ask for what they want.
• Staying at a company too long,?? Women tend to be overly loyal to a company. If there are no opportunities to grow in your current organization, maybe it’s time to make the break and move on to career growth at a new company.
• Networking ââ?¬â?? Women are generally good at relationships, but many do not make the time to develop a professional network; individuals with whom a professional partnership can be mutually beneficial.
• And more!

If you ever have a chance to hear Ms. Shambaugh speak, I highly recommend it. The event was both informative and fun!

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Make sure you take a look at the recently re-launched Amtower Off Center. Mark Amtower has refreshed his blog, where he regularly posts his unique and valuable insights into the world of government marketing. Check it out!

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