22 year old South African becomes Microsoft regional director

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http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/top-microsoft-position-for-kzn-man-22-20160328

Pietermaritzburg - A KwaZulu-Natal youngster who dropped out of school has nailed a top position as Microsoft regional director in South Africa.

At only 22, Taylor Gibb from Durban will have the heavy responsibility on his shoulders of working closely with product teams in Redmond, Washington, United States, as well as local Microsoft offices to align both business and technical strategy with existing and potential clients.

Unlike pioneers in the tech world who dropped out of university such as Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, Gibb dropped out of school at the age of 14 and went on to achieve success in his field before being appointed to the position.

“Leaving school at 14 taught me that I work best outside of my comfort zone. Whenever I get comfortable doing something I know it’s time for change. I need to keep moving and challenging myself; it’s just the type of person I am. There are many times when things get tough, but to me it’s just another challenge. I look for solutions, not problems,” he said.

After leaving school two weeks into Grade 9, Gibb knew being involved in computers was something he always wanted to do. He started by fixing computers in his mother’s garage and from there he said “it was a natural progression”.

He went on to become a successful software engineer at the Durban branch of one of the world’s largest software and gaming development companies, Derivco.

He also began speaking publicly at local tech events and was recognised as the youngest Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in the world — an award that is given to those who share their technical expertise of Microsoft products with others.

Being appointed to the position by Microsoft was no easy feat and a title one cannot apply to be employed to.

A regional director may only be appointed by another director or Microsoft employee who has to motivate for a candidate. Once shortlisted, candidates are then screened to see if they are fit for the title at the Microsoft headquarters.

Gibb said that he felt privileged and honoured to be chosen to take the role.

“It is going to allow me to make a bigger impact in the technology sector. I am very passionate about setting up processes that allow you to maximise ROI [return on investment] on your technical investments and this role is going to allow me to make better decisions on both the technical as well as ‘process’ side of things,” he said.

Gibb said anyone aspiring to being involved in the tech industry should follow their dreams and be in a position where they are happy.

“If you get up every morning and think ‘Argh, I have to go to work’ there is something wrong.”

Gibb will officially start in the position on April 1.

He will have to fly to Egypt at the end of May and the Microsoft HQ in Seattle later this year.
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Shows you how bad South Africans schools are, if someone who drops out of school at 14 can become so successful.
 
There's a KZN based forumite I know whom worked there at Derivco...
Nah, he seemed too old and drove Mercs :p :D

Congrats to the dude :D
 
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Is it just me or are his responses so run of the mill been said before clichés it makes me want to laugh at MS for this one??
 
Erm.... http://www.msrd.io/

He is basically an MVP that can code. News24 quality reporting at its best again :rolleyes:

A Regional Director typically is an expert who focuses on software development tools and technologies, whereas a Microsoft MVP can be experts in any of the numerous Microsoft software and services – like Windows for instance.

...

Thus, to become a Microsoft Regional Director, you have to be visibly active in different areas of technologies. You must be contributing towards promoting and creating an awareness of Microsoft technologies and must be helping out people in using those technologies properly. Involvement in other Microsoft programs and completion of Microsoft Certifications could be an added benefit.
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He doesn't work for Microsoft.

So basically, he has a slightly better chance of actually being useful when you ask for his assistance than an MVP would be.
 
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Hamster said:
Erm.... http://www.msrd.io/

He is basically an MVP that can code. News24 quality reporting at its best again :rolleyes:



He doesn't work for Microsoft.

So basically, he has a slightly better chance of actually being useful when you ask for his assistance than an MVP would be.
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So it seems - how misleading!
 
Hamster said:
Makes you wonder if they even interviewed him or scraped together an article from a couple of google searches.
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Gosh, it is disturbing that facts aren't verified when published. :eek:
 
So a fancy title without any pay, working at a company which is directionless (except when the biggest feature is the re-introduction of the "Start button") and has a history of producing the worst and non-standards compliant web-browser?
 
MagicDude4Eva said:
So a fancy title without any pay, [-]working at[/-] evangelising for a company which is directionless (except when the biggest feature is the re-introduction of the "Start button") and has a history of producing the worst and non-standards compliant web-browser?
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FTFY

Although I wouldn't say MS is completely directionless
 
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