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Published on 01/05/1998 All articles from this issue

Jean on the Job

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By Jean Hollands

Silicon Valley: Acres and acres of technical fruit

This is the place. This is the happening place where the world looks and trusts and waits for our moves. I was so proud of the Time Magazine issue with our Man of the Year, Andy Grove on the cover. If you haven't been to the Intel Museum at the Robert Noyce building, do it. It traces the history of the company; its founders and its business diversity.

Andy Grove represents a refugee, survivor, first in his engineering class, business head, author, spokesperson, cancer beater, lust for business adventure and the man whom thousands of Intel employees follow as he takes the high road, the bumpy road and the road less traveled to show the world the way to the Santa Clara Valley.

The start-ups we boast of here - the Steves and Apple, Fairchild moves, the H-P empire and lastly, for now, the Intel Inside era. No wonder newly arriving scientists and technical people feel awed to be in these orchards. The fruit that grows here drives the technology of the world, the land of outer space and even some very intricate inner spaces.

Recently I was on the plane sitting next to a fellow laughing over his laptop. Someone had e-mailed him a funny, in color, screen traveling Christmas Card. They only cost $1.50 per card.

I love the ad in which an adopting couple sees their Asian baby for the first time through the computer screen. Some of all of this starts here. We are blessed with the brains, the business courage, the sky's the limit innovations and the support team around this valley. This support team looks on, values the inventions, shaking our heads, but using each upgrade as it pops out of Andy Grove's head or slips under a 3Com cubicle or slivers out of a Xilinx board room. Sometimes we scoff, or doubt, or worry, but we never turn down the fruits of our dazzling orchards.

Jean Hollands, CEO, Growth & Leadership Center, author, Silicon Syndrome and Optimistic Organizations, is a management coach and corporate team-builder. Write to GLC, 1451 Grant Road, Mountain View 94040.