In this insightful Nomad Futurist episode, co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence engage in a thought-provoking conversation with tech industry veteran, Mark Thiele, most recently serving as CEO and Co-Founder of Edgevana. Together, they explore career growth, the evolving concept of retirement, and the invaluable wisdom he has gained throughout his journey. 

Thiele reflects on his decision to step away from the corporate grind, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing personal passions and meaningful connections. He candidly shares the sacrifices he made throughout his career and the realization that true fulfillment comes from dedicating time to the people and experiences that matter most: 

 

"I'm going to find the time to do the things that I've always wanted to do and spend the time with the people that I've always wanted to spend time with. There was a big portion of my career where I was gone 50-70% of the time year after year."  

Sharing his unconventional entry into the tech world, Thiele highlights the industry’s vast opportunities for growth, reinforcing the idea that determination and hard work can pave the way to success:  

"I came into the industry without a college degree. I started at the bottom — which is, you know, like it or not, kind of how we're trying to bring in new people. Start at the bottom. The opportunities to move up are almost endless." 

Thiele also stresses the importance of seeing the bigger picture, urging professionals to go beyond technical skills and understand how their work fits into the broader ecosystem: 

"Don't let yourself get caught up in just being the best C++ programmer...or best HVAC or airflow planner... Understand what those things are a part of. Understand what influences the reasons for people to use the things that you work on or that you build or that you deploy."  

Thiele’s insights provide valuable guidance for professionals at all stages, emphasizing continuous learning, a broad perspective, and work-life balance in an ever-evolving industry. 

Stay connected with Mark Thiele on LinkedIn.