Why continuous learning is the only way forward for IT professionals

1. The Full Stack Journey
Scott Lowe, VCDX 39
vExpert, Author, Blogger, Podcaster, Geek
http://blog.scottlowe.org / Twitter: @scott_lowe
Colossians 3:17
Why continuous learning is the only way forward for IT
professionals

2. Before we get started
• Get involved! Feel free to ask questions or share your viewpoint. (This is not
your typical keynote.)
• Use your mobile device(s) all you like, but please silence them.
• If you’re a social media user, feel free to post updates. For Twitter, use the
handle @DFWVMUG or the hashtag #DFWVMUG.
• You’re more than welcome to take pictures or videos and post them online!
• A PDF copy of this presentation will be available online after the event.

3. Who is this guy, anyway?
• Husband, father, geek, Jeep lover
• Blogger (10+ years at http://blog.scottlowe.org)
• Author (7 books so far, 1 in the works)
• Podcaster (The Full Stack Journey Podcast)
• Speaker (DevOps Networking Forum, Interop, OpenStack Summit, VMworld)
• Avid VMUG supporter (Speaker at events worldwide, mentor for new
speakers)
• Employee at VMware, Inc., on the NSX team

4. So...what’s up with this “full stack” thing?
What are we talking about here?

5. https://flic.kr/p/ofCtP1
A full stack
of tires?

6. https://flic.kr/p/7ph1Su
A full stack
of pancakes?

7. https://flic.kr/p/8oHxGM
A full stack
of discs?

8. https://flic.kr/p/56UqaR

9. What is the modern data center stack?

10. What is the modern data center stack?

11. What is the modern data center stack?

12. What is the modern data center stack?

13. What is the modern data center stack?

14. What is the modern data center stack?

15. What is the modern data center stack?

16. OK, then…what’s a full stack engineer?

17. My definition of a full stack engineer:
“…someone who’s capable of working across multiple silos
and moving among multiple layers of the modern data center
stack.”
(from the introduction to the Full Stack Journey Podcast)

18. Across
silos
and
among
layers

19. What’s driving this? Why is this
important?

20. Multiple forces are at play here

21. Changing nature of IT skill sets
—I T 𝞹“Dash” shaped “I” shaped “T” shaped “Pi” (𝞹) shaped

22. Across
silos
and
among
layers

23. Is the full
stack engineer
a myth, then?
An
unattainable
unicorn?
http://daemon.co.za/2014/04/what-does-full-stack-
mean/

24. “The journey not the arrival matters.”
- T.S. Eliot

25. There’s value in the journey
• Perfection is unattainable, but that doesn’t stop us from pursuing it
• The journey to being a full-stack engineer brings benefits on its own
• It helps create habits for continuous learning
• It helps foster “big picture thinking”
• It helps establish natural curiosity
• It helps you understand the relationships that exist between all areas of
technology

26. The Full Stack
Journey podcast
• Launched in January 2016
• The goal is to provide real, practical,
actionable advice to help listeners on
their “full stack journey”
• Available via iTunes
• Website at http://fullstackjourney.com
• I’ll be recording an episode here today
at 2:20pm in the Career Corner

27. Questions?

28. Thank you!
Scott Lowe, VCDX 39
vExpert, Author, Blogger, Podcaster, Geek
http://blog.scottlowe.org / Twitter: @scott_lowe
Colossians 3:17
Please be sure to provide feedback to the VMUG leaders on this session.