In today’s busy, plugged-in world, it can be difficult to keep up with the “who’s who” of the tech business. Here are just eight names to familiarize yourself with in order to speak intelligently at your next business conference.
1. Jeff Bezos
Though most famous as the founder of Amazon.com, Jeff Bezos has also made a number of purchases, investments and acquisitions that make him a man to watch in the business world. For example, he also owns the Washington Post and has made allusions to big plans for the future of the publication. You won’t want to miss anything that this man plans to do.
2. Irwin Jacobs
You may not have heard of Irwin Jacobs, but you’ve felt the effects of his company Qualcomm. It designs and manufactures wireless devices, and its products include HALO, MediaFlow, QChat, Mirasol displays and the PureVoice audio codec. You’ll definitely want to keep an eye on Jacobs as the world becomes increasingly digital and his stronghold over software only continues to grow.
3. Sergey Brin and Larry Paige
You probably already know these names. They’re the creators of Google and some of the richest men on the planet. What you may not know is that they seek to expand and improve on their brand every single day, and Google now has its fingers in everything from eye-tracking technology to automated cars.
4. Meg Whitman
Meg Whitman doesn’t stay idle. In her decades of work as a business and media guru, she’s either started, served or spearheaded the expansion of companies like eBay, Hasbro and even the Walt Disney Company. Her policies have also resulted in worldwide changes in their various industries. She currently owns and runs HP, making her a name to know in computer technology.
5. Carl Freer
Freer founded Tiger Telematics in 2002, and headed up the creation of Gizmondo, a handheld gaming device that quickly entered the annals of history. Freer now works as a technological entrepreneur and advisor for a number of software companies.
6. Mark Zuckerberg
Love him or hate him, Mark Zuckerberg is a game-changer when it comes to social media. Facebook currently has 1.23 billion users, more than many other platforms combined, and the changes and advertisements that he puts on the site make vibrations through the entire Internet.
7. Larry Ellison
The Oracle Corporation is second only to Microsoft in terms of popularity and profit in the software world. You can thank Larry Ellison for that. Despite attending two colleges and graduating from neither, he’s proved himself a force to be reckoned with when it comes to creation, innovation and marketing, so you’ll definitely want to pay attention whenever he makes an announcement.
8. Olivier Piou
Piou is another name that you might not know, but you should make every effort in correcting this. He’s a great inventor and charge-leader in his native land of Denmark, and his mobile communication and wireless data transfer technology have made waves even beyond his European borders.
These are just eight movers and shakers in the world of technology. Whether you’re looking for role models or just a new discussion point for the water cooler, these professionals are the ones to know.
