jill: Many changes, some good, some not, are/have been approved/authorized by various governing bodies such as W3C (the world wide web consortium) and ICANN (International Consortium). In your opinion, in what direction is the Internet, as we know it today, heading? Where do you see things 5 years from now? 10 years?
molly: I am a terrible fortune teller, but I will say
I am personally really excited about the way
markup is going especially. I think we're going
to be building technologies in the near future that
we can't even conceive of today. It's an organic
process. It's one of the reasons I don't like to try
and pigeon hole it.
I do think we'll all be surprised at what we
end up with. I also think we're laying some
serious foundations for things beyond our
own lifetimes. That's pretty cool when you
think about it, and it's part of the reason
I think I remain so passionate about the
work we're all doing on the Web.
This stuff is bigger than us, much bigger.
I'm going to just grab on tight and
enjoy the wild ride.
jill: What is your philosophy for making these unpredictable swings work in your favor?
molly: Well, it's not a philosophy so much
as a method. In my family we refer to it as
"self-reflexivity" and basically it 's that you
constantly must be as honest with yourself
as possible. This means admitting wrongs,
admiring your strengths, and using the resulting
wisdom from the process to make choices at
every juncture that best serve both you and
those around you equally.
The most important skill needed is to
thrive in an environment of change.
jill: What educational/training recommendations would you give someone now, to secure a future career in IT?
molly: The big issue is whether to go deep and specialize in a certain
technology, or go broad and gain a global perspective. Neither is the right choice, you have to do
both. That, of course, puts great demand on us all to learn as much as
we can every day.
It is definitely an intense process that shows no indication of easing
up. I think finding a core part of Web development and design such as Java or XML or
Web graphic design and going deep is important, but never lose sight of the big
picture. The more well rounded you are, the more you can flex and bend to the demands of
the day.
A point I have to make here, despite sounding like my mother, who is a
Ph.D. and was recently bestowed the honor of Professor Emirate when she left her
position at Kean University of New Jersey, is finish your education! We've
bootstrapped our way into the industry. But if you think that a degree or certification is a
waste of time, think again. The days of hiring based on cool factor and demand are
gone.
You've gotta have the goods. It will help you be more competitive, and more flexible.
jill: How do you feel that the current upheaval is, in the long term, affecting the IT industry?
molly: The cream will rise to the top.
As I've already suggested, it's a blessing in disguise. The cream
will rise to the top; people will have to prove themselves and their commitment to
their work.
This isn't frivolity.
jill: Thank you so very much, Molly, for sharing your time and thoughts. Your insight is invaluable and so important for us all to get a handle on what is really going on in the evolution of this technology and industry.