April Fools’ Day Tech Pranks

April Fools’ Day marks a long-standing tradition of practical jokes, hoaxes and good, old-fashioned tomfoolery. So, naturally, it’s one of my favorite holidays! With everything from “kick me” signs taped to people’s backs and flour poured into hairdryers, to toothpaste-filled Oreo cookies and Saran Wrap on the toilet seat, April 1st is a day when many are constantly looking over their shoulder … and the tech world is no different! Just try putting a Post-it note over your coworker’s mouse trackball, or pressing Ctrl+Alt+↑on their computer keyboard, and watch them go nuts (note: Ctrl+Alt+↓ is the fix for the second trick).

Women in Tech; Saving Grace for the IT Staff Shortage?

As predicted, we are now in the midst of a skilled IT staff shortage. In fact, IT staff now ranks third in ManPower’s annual talent shortage survey as one of the hardest positions to fill, up from sixth place in 2011. But, as companies look to fill these critical tech roles across various industries, will women be their saving grace? Historically, women have not held a prominent role in the technology sector; however, recent research shows women are making promising strides.

How to Survive a Tech Conference

Last week, I attended SYS-CON’s Cloud Computing Expo in Santa Clara, California to support clients CloudSigma and Interxion. While the event was a complete success with steady crowds at the booths, quality conversations and ample product announcements, it was also four, fully exhausting days. Being on your feet all day, continually giving the same explanations and missing your regular routine can really wear you out. So, naturally, over the years, I’ve developed my “How to Survive a Tech Conference” guide. The following tips have gotten me through every conference, both large and small, from Interop to Structure, and beyond.