From this mornings washington post
New at the Top
Daniel Wagner
Monday, April 20, 2009
Position: President of business services at Herndon-based XO Communications.
Career Highlights: Executive vice president of enterprise and collaboration services and chief information officer at Global Crossing; president and managing director at Global Crossing UK.
Age: 44
Education: BS, Electrical Engineering, Cornell University.
Personal: Lives in Reston with wife Kathleen and their sons Jim, Tom and Michael.
How did you get to where you are?
When I was in college, I decided to study engineering because it was the toughest degree I could find. I wanted the challenge and I knew it would prove valuable -- not to mention that my father worked as a network engineering director for a couple of telecommunications companies.
I never expected to be active in the telecom field. I became involved in a few consulting services after graduating from college. Eventually, I came back to my roots and was recruited into telecom.
The role of technology and how it influences business is becoming more and more influential. It's nice to be a part of a company that is taking advantage of the technological changes that are occurring.
I do remember, however, when telecommunications went through its own major challenge during the telecom bubble that blew up in the early 2000s. Because I have seen the troubles associated with that era, I feel pretty well positioned for these economic times. Even before I made my mark in general management with sales and marketing, I ran IT for Global Crossing for several years, so I understand what IT people are going through these days.
My first years at that company were also when I made my big break. They sent me to London to take over managing a fairly sizable business there. It was over my head in terms of my capability. But I went in with the understanding that if I worked in the local culture with the local people and if I helped make them successful, we could turn that business around.
So I moved my family to Europe, and from 2001 to 2002 we effectively turned the company from one that was losing money and market share to one that was making many millions of dollars.
That type of growth is what attracted me to XO Communications. I saw that it was investing, building networks and growing, even at a time when many companies are cutting back.
investorvillage.com |
