All posts by Richard

Nerdcast – Take 07: SkillSoft

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Late last year SkillSoft shook up the eLearning world with the news it would acquire NETg. These two organizations were the two largest competitors in the online training world. Now that the dust has settled (i.e. SEC requirements), and SkillSoft is free to talk about strategy, I recently sat down for a podcast interview with John Ambrose, SkillSoft’s Senior Vice President of Strategy. Here were my questions: (listen to the podcast to hear John’s answers!)

Nerdcast – Take 07: Interview with SkillSoft’s John Ambrose
(total running time: 13 minutes)

  1. What do you think will be the primary benefits of the NETg acquisition for your customers … please include the areas of courses and virtual books in your answer?
  2. NETg had an increasingly strong presence in live web based instructor led training.  What are SkillSoft’s plans in this arena?
  3. When the NETg acquisition was first announced, I personally attended the briefing your CEO, Chuck Moran, gave to Wall Street Analysts. In one of his answers he spoke to the issue of "increasing the NETg operating margins". Many NETg customers already feel that SkillSoft has historically been the high priced provider. Given your CEO’s own comments, and these customer concerns, how would you respond?
  4. What are your plans for the various eLearning platforms that SkillSoft and NETg have between them?
  5. Is there anything you’ve not covered, that you would specifically like to say to NETg customers? … to Skillsoft customers?
  6. One of the things I do on NerdCast is ask this question of all interviewees! ….. Okay … What’s the nerdiest thing you’ve ever done in your life, and be specific!

Leaving Microsoft to Change the World

China

Two weeks from today I will run Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota. As I enter my final training period, for inspiration I’m reading John Wood’s book, Leaving Microsoft to Change the World. Mr. Wood was a senior level Microsoft executive who left his company to bring books to the children of Nepal.

My marathon effort will re-build a rural school in China. Although I may not have the connections of a gentleman like John Wood, my effort will make a difference to 35 children in JiaYou. Please consider a pledge to help the children. I will be contributing both money and sweat to this effort. eMail your pledge to me, Rich Hoeg, at rhoeg@comcast.net.
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Leavingmicrosoft