Eric Charran
Chief Architect
Microsoft
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
First, I got into programming late in college.
Then I got a marketing job and rewrote the entire interviewing system in Microsoft Access and VB.
Then I got into Data Warehousing which was REALLY hard.
Then I branched into consulting, which I loved.
Then I focused on app development and reporting.
Then I began focusing on the way that technology systems interact and should be designed.
Then I got really good at communicating to technical and business decision makers.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Hatboro Horsham Senior High School
Hatboro Horsham Senior High School
Career
Chief Architect
I design complex software solutions using Artificial Intelligence.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Technology
Travel
Being Creative
Day to Day
My day typically starts with architectural review sessions from software architects around the world. These include whiteboarding sessions where we figure out what the best combination of technologies, techniques and capabilities would be to meet a problem. We then determine which combination of artificial intelligence algorithms would meet the need. The next half of the day is spent making sure that we utilize AI the right way and follow principles to make sure the technology use is ethical.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for middle school students
Understand the growth mindset and apply it at every possible turn. This means that people should be bold and fearless. Try things as if you couldn't fail. If you do fail, don't think of it as a setback or black mark to be hidden away. Be proud of your failures and broadcast your learned lessons. Effort is what should be rewarded. Results should be secondary.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Parents:
"You should just get a business degree and go be an accountant or marketing associate. Work to get a 401K and then retire."
Challenges I Overcame
Financial
Family Mental Illness
