Plex 2E

 View Only

Community View: Simon Cockayne, Featured User 11/14

By Chris_Stallone posted Nov 17, 2014 10:00 AM

  

Once a month we'll shine our virtual spotlight on one of the CA Plex 2E community's members. It's just a fun, easy way for us to get to know one another a little bit beyond our work-related interactions here on the site. This month, we're featuring Simon_Cockayne, Sr Principal Product Manager of CA Technologies. profile-image-display.jpg


How do you use CA Communities and any suggestions for others?

I use it to try to connect to customers and to encourage customers to connect with each other. If someone has a problem, it’s pretty likely that EITHER someone else has already solved it (therefore would be great to find that person to tell you the answer) OR that a bunch of other folks have the same problem (therefore it would be great to bring those folks together, with their diverse perspectives and experiences, to work together on a solution). I love seeing the energy that a community can generate. I love seeing people in a community trying to help each other.


Mac or PC? MacBook Air. Beautiful piece of engineering.


Mobile Device? iPhone 5S. But…I just ordered an iPhone 6 Plus. Immediately wished I'd ordered an iPhone 6. In a parallel universe I am doing the opposite.


Apps/software/tools you can’t live without?

OneNote (This is what I use as my “trusted system” for getting things done). Also need Outlook (for work). Gmail (for personal). Not forgetting Chatter app (from Salesforce) which is our internal business social network at CA. We have thousands of bright passionate people here at CA and Chatter is an awesome way to connect with them. Also enjoy Twitter app, to try to A) share and encourage folks to be more agile and to continuously improve. B) To learn from amazing people form around the world.


Besides your phone and computer what's your favorite gadget?

I like my iPad for doodling with the Paper app and posting on Twitter (@simoncockayne). Otherwise, I would say tin opener.


What’s your daily work space like?

Tidy desk, tidy mind. Notice board above my desk with stuff I find important or what to be reminded of. Agile Manifesto. Agile Principles. Pictures of my family. A graphic showing one circle labelled “Your comfort zone” and another labelled “This is where the magic happens!” :-)


How do you balance life/work?

I love my job. I’m all about happiness, more specifically “Nurturing happiness through innovation". I try to apply that and live that whether I am at work or not. Day in day out, I see stuff I learn from work, that I can apply at home or with my kids…and vice versa. I keep my phone away fom family mealtimes…and I typically don't work on the weekends…and usually spend that time with my wife and kids. I also try to keep fit and healthy, I love trail running. I can’t begin to count how many problems I’ve solved, or new ideas I have had when I have been running in the woods. I feel lucky that I have a job that I love so much. Frankly, with a goal of building really ace software, that helps bring a little happiness into the days of the folks that use it…it really doesn’t feel like work.


Best advice you can give and you have received?

Best advice I can give "Always tell the truth.”, that’s the corner stone of earning trust.. Best advice I have received "Life is not a dress rehearsal”.


What everyday thing are you better at than anyone else?

I’m not better at anything than anyone else. That said, I am pretty awesome at loading a dishwasher. I wonder if that planning and organizing helps me to be an effective Product Owner?

0 comments
0 views