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Be innovative, ex-Microsoft executive urges UNL students(Omaha World-Herald (NE) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sep. 27--LINCOLN -- The "print preview" option on your computer was created by a Microsoft employee who didn't like to be constantly leaving his desk. Before about 100 University of Nebraska-Lincoln business and computer science students Friday, Jeffrey Raikes talked about the Microsoft programmer who felt his printer was too far away. To resolve the issue, the programmer created a command on his computer screen that showed how a document would look printed out. Another employee walked past the programmer's screen, saw the feature and thought it was a great idea. Now we have print preview. Raikes, a Nebraska native and former top Microsoft executive, used that story to explain a lesson to the students. "Your job is to know a lot about how customers use your product and also know what the technology is capable of, then be innovative," Raikes said. Raikes, 50, visited the campus to give an hour lecture on business and leadership to students in UNL's Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management. UNL recently renamed its computer science and management school after Raikes, who now works as CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Raikes donated $10 million to UNL for computer science and management programs. In his speech, he told students that to become successful, they must pick a career they believe is fun and a line of work that will further their company. "The greatest thing I learned from him today was to pursue your passion," said Mike Kistler, a 22-year-old Grand Island student studying for a master's in business administration. "I like that he's down to earth despite having had such a highly prestigious position." Raikes, who grew up on a farm outside of Ashland, Neb., and is the brother of State Sen. Ron Raikes, recently retired as president of Microsoft Corp.'s Business Division. After being Stanford-educated in engineering and economics, Raikes took a job with Apple as a software development manager. He joined Microsoft in 1981 as a product manager. He held several management roles for the company in his 27 years there. Raikes stressed to students that technology and business are "always changing" and that new ideas for products are needed fairly quickly. He told them to look at how cell phones are being used today and see if there are business opportunities for making mobile devices better. Having rural roots, Raikes said he first envisioned himself working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That changed when he enrolled at Stanford and learned more about computers. Many students and UNL staff said Friday that they see Raikes' career as a major success, but he told them, "I didn't go to Microsoft because I thought it was going to be as big as it is now." He said he took a Microsoft job because he loved working with computer software. "It's very good to have a plan, but be open to opportunity," he said. "I had plans to go work for the USDA, but another opportunity with Apple opened up, I took it, and I couldn't be more happy that I did." 444-1229, [email protected] To see more of the Omaha World-Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.omaha.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Omaha World-Herald, Neb. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |