Interviewing shared phone
vendors - Kampala, Uganda |
Will is an independent Social-Technologist, supporting ICT for
Development projects and startups, and promoting Creative
Capitalism. He serves as co-chairman of NComputing Inc, a
fast-growing and award-winning desktop virtualization startup that
in 2010 shipped its two-millionth unit, about 75% of which are
deployed in schools around the world.
Will was previously corporate vice president of the Unlimited
Potential Group at Microsoft Corp., co-leading the company’s efforts
to create new business models and technologies to help close the
digital divide and help bring social and economic opportunity to the
“next billion”. Before he assumed leadership of the Unlimited
Potential Group, Will ran the Windows® Client business and was
responsible for the software used in more than 750 million PCs
around the world, delivering about 30 percent of corporate revenues.
Before leading Windows Client, Will headed up the Windows New Media
Platforms Division, digital rights management initiatives, and other
efforts in digital media.
Will joined Microsoft in 1996 with the acquisition of eShop Inc., an
internet e-commerce pioneer which he co-founded in 1991 and where he
served as president and chief operating officer. Before that, he
spent five years in senior marketing and engineering management
roles at Sun Microsystems Inc., focusing on advanced desktop
environments and PC compatibility. He founded two startups one while
finishing his degree program, at the dawn of the PC era. Will
received a degree in Computer Science from Brown University in 1983.
Professional summary
- Currently an independent angel investor, strategic
consultant, and philanthropist. Manages
Poolinger LLC partnership
for investing and consulting.
- 12 years at Microsoft, 8 as an executive officer, leading areas
ranging from digital media to the Windows desktop to co-founding the
Unlimited Potential initiative. Shipped multiple releases of Windows
Media Player/Server; DRM technologies; Media Center and Starter
editions of Windows XP; and FlexGo and subscription computing
(Redmond)
- 5 years as a co-founding pioneer of eShop, a multi-media e-commerce
startup. Shipped national online shopping service; licensed
internationally; acquired by Microsoft in 1996. (SF Bay Area)
- 5 years developing and marketing workstations at Sun Microsystems.
Shipped Sun386, Virtual PC. (Boston)
- 3 years running early stage startups at the dawn of the PC industry
(Providence)
-
NComputing: leader in ultra-low-cost desktop virtualization
- Pengala: distance
learning software focused on the Indian market
- Volt Boats: hybrid
human/electric boating company
- KlearKase: life-proof
solutions for mobile computing
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- Onvia -- IPO in 2001
- Storability -- acquired by StorageTek in 2002.
- Mobliss -- acquired by Index Corp. in 2004
- AllRecipies.com -- acquired by Readers Digest in 2006
Philanthropic focus areas
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