Paul Thiel: Noted Expert in Research and Development for the Information and Communication Technology Sector

This week, Stephen Ibaraki, FCIPS, I.S.P., MVP, DF/NPA, CNP has an exclusive interview with Paul Thiel, noted expert in research and development for the Information and Communication Technology sector.

Paul Thiel has over thirty years of Middle and Senior Management experience within Research and Development for the Information and Communication Technology sector in British Columbia. He has been an integral part of Applied Research and development activities in BC, plus Pacific Northwest, both as an employee of companies including British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), PMC-Sierra Inc., MPR Teltech Ltd and as an independent consultant. He fulfilled a 3 year secondment as Senior Technology Advisor with the BC Provincial Government and is active in the BCTIA, VEF, etc. Many of the projects Paul has been responsible for included technology transfers, performing due diligence on technology, production interface, sourcing project funding, marketing studies and sales.

Paul is a Graduate of the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Executive MBA program, holds a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from University of Alberta and is a Professional Engineer. He is a founding member of the Canadian Microelectronics Consortium and has served on many boards and advisory committees throughout his career.

To listen to the interview, click on this MP3 file link

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The latest blog on the interview can be found this week in the Canadian IT Managers (CIM) forum where you can provide your comments in an interactive dialogue.
http://blogs.technet.com/cdnitmanagers/

Discussion:

Interview Time Index (MM:SS) and Topic
00:32:		How would you describe yourself Paul?
00:50:		You just finished a role with BCIT. What were the 3 most productive examples of your work and the important lessons you wish to share with other executives?
02:38:		Are you able to discuss some of these commercial areas in a little more detail and perhaps give some examples?
05:03:		Which areas of the industry and/or technologies would you consider high risk versus medium risk and what would be your advice to companies about these areas?
06:04:		Can you give some examples of what you would consider medium risk ventures?
07:37:		You are a founding member of the Canadian Microelectronics Consortium. Can you tell us more about this?
09:23:		As senior technology advisor with the BC Provincial Government, what was your greatest challenge?
10:29:		How do you foresee the build-out of wireless technologies?
12:01:		What are the major challenges with IP Telecom and how will they be solved?
13:28:		What are the implications of SOA and the integration of systems from factory to line-of-business?
14:28:		Forecast the five most interesting new technologies and the opportunities they represent?
19:14:		What do you hope to accomplish in the future and how do you plan to go about doing this?
20:20:		What motivated you to get your MBA and which areas from your MBA do you find the most relevant and useful?
21:45:		What do you consider to be the five most useful resources (and why)?
24:23:		What are your views about Web 2 this social interaction that is occurring worldwide and in communities and through blogs and wikis and Flickr...etc.?
25:55:		Because of your involvement in research and development and trying to take it to business or commercialization in some way, what do you see as some of the challenges for business today and into the future?
27:28:		There are services that are available within many of the search engines and portals. Communications are offered somewhat freely now through the internet and many other services are being offered freely in different forms? How is the telecom industry going to survive this?
29:15:		In regards to productivity in Canada - we lag other countries and some are attributing this to ICT adoption. What are your thoughts on this?
30:52:		Which international and Canadian figures do you admire?
32:02:		Throughout your long career, describe three events that had the most profound impact on your life?
38:58:		What are your passions - things you do for relaxation - what are your hobbies? What's your favourite gadget?