Owner at Greenwood Consulting LLC
Can you please provide a little introduction about yourself
I am based in Southern California - Temecula, CA. I serve as a fractional/interim CDO | CIO | CTO.
What path have you taken to your current position?
I started in the tech industry as an original founding employee of Micrografx, the company that developed, and shipped, the first commercially available Windows application - In*a*Vision, a CAD program.
After 7yrs, I left Micrografx, with the COO and President, to start an entertainment company, where we developed interactive titles for children, games, such as the Monty Python series, and even a few albums. I was able to work with members of Pink Floyd, Roger Daltrey, Supertramp, Toto, and celebrities like Howie Mandel and Quincy Jones. Both Micrografx and 7th Level went public on the NASDAQ.
I have traversed a large swath of industries from big law and office products, to consumer electronics and manufacturing. However, the vast majority of my roles have been at entertainment companies such as 7th Level, Sony Music, Sony Pictures and Live Nation Entertainment.
Has it always been your vision to reach the position you’re at? Was your current role part of your vision to become a tech leader?
From the start of my career, I’ve made it a priority to take on as many different roles as possible to gain a well-rounded understanding of the business. I've worked in business development, sales, technical support, product management, QA, and took on producer roles in music and gaming.
My true passion has always been driven by technology. The fast-paced, ever-evolving nature of cutting-edge tech has continuously captivated me.
Have you had a role model or mentor that has helped you on your journey?
I’ve been fortunate to have some great mentors along the way. Bob Ezrin was instrumental in shaping many of my people and production skills. As a former musician, I connected with Bob right away. Though I had known him for years prior, we brought him on as President at the 7th Level, and the relationship was mutually beneficial.
Bob gained valuable insights into technology and business, while I learned a great deal about entertainment, production and the art of managing people and personalities.
How do you see the role of the technology leader evolving over the next 5 years?
I’ve observed for a while now that tech leaders are no longer limited to IT or engineering roles; they’ve become trusted advisors to CEOs and boards. I personally serve on several boards, including the Joshua Tree National Park Association and Kronos Fusion Energy. With technology evolving at lightning speed, the real value lies in helping others understand how to harness it to drive meaningful impact for their organizations.
What skills do you think leaders of the future will need in order to thrive?
Leaders of the future will need a diverse skill set to thrive in an increasingly complex and fast-evolving world. The most important will be adaptability, agility and strategic foresight. They'll need these skills above all, to navigate a rapidly changing world, inspire their teams, and create lasting value in an unpredictable future.
Is there anything in particular that you would still like to achieve in your career or what is the next step on your journey?
I want to continue diving deeper into emerging technologies. It's an exciting prospect to know that you're shaping the future of companies mission and vision. I want to continue expanding my influence as a thought leader and advisor.
What advice would you give to aspiring technology leaders who are just starting their careers?
Master both technology and business. It's important to not only have a deep understanding of technology but also to know how it impacts the business. Learn how to communicate technical insights in business terms, and always consider the business value behind technical decisions.
"Master both technology and business."
What role do you see emerging technologies (e.g., AI, machine learning, blockchain) playing in your industry, and how are you preparing for them?
Emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and blockchain are already reshaping industries across the board, and their influence in martech and ecommerce is no exception. As a technology leader, the way you prepare for and harness these innovations can significantly impact your ability to stay competitive and drive growth.
There's so many ways to align these technologies with the business, I've written an entire white paper on the subject. Suffice to say, by preparing for and strategically adopting these emerging technologies, you can position yourself as a leader in leveraging innovation to drive business growth and create superior customer experiences.
How do you measure and communicate the value and impact of technology initiatives to other business leaders and stakeholders?
Effectively measuring and communicating the value of technology initiatives to business leaders is crucial for securing buy-in, aligning with organizational objectives, and demonstrating ROI.
I prioritize creating clear KPIs and consistently tracking them, with a strong emphasis on both ROI and the overall business impact of each initiative.
What has been your most significant achievement or proudest moment as a technology leader?
I was honored to be nominated for an award at the Los Angeles Business Journal's CIO Awards. I went in with no expectations, simply planning to enjoy the evening.
As the night progressed and most of the awards had been given out, I was genuinely surprised and humbled to hear my name called for "Enterprise CIO of the Year (500+ Employees)" for my time as SVP of Global Technology at Live Nation Entertainment.
It was an unforgettable moment, made even more special by having my family and a few of my managers there to share it with me. It truly was a wonderful evening!
A big thank you to Jon Michel Greenwood from Greenwood Consulting LLC for sharing his journey to date.
If you would like to gain more perspective from Tech Leaders and CIOs you can read some of our other interviews here.
