Posted on Feb. 25: Software company executive shares roots of his success

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/elop.jpg” caption=”Stephen Elop”]Students never know how university courses and professors might affect their careers.

Macromedia Inc. executive Stephen Elop, a graduate of McMaster University's Engineering & Management program, says that his five-year degree combining both technical and business aspects has definitely been a boost to his career. “Finance, personnel, and legal courses, as well as the computer engineering curriculum, have all contributed to my success,” says Elop, who now commutes on a weekly basis from his home in Acton, Ont. to San Francisco.

Elop, executive vice-president of worldwide field operations for Macromedia Inc., will share some of his secrets of success and memories of McMaster Thursday, Feb. 26, 2004 at the first McMaster Engineering Connection. The Connection, held in Toronto, brings together McMaster graduates for an evening of information and entertainment.

Macromedia Inc. is a software development company based in San Francisco. Founded in 1992, the company employs more than 1,400 people and has operations in more than 50 countries worldwide. “At Macromedia, we are motivated by the belief that great experiences build great business,” Elop says. “Macromedia provides the industry-leading software that empowers Web developers and designers to create and deliver those effective, compelling and memorable experiences.”

One of Elop's best McMaster experiences, he says, was preparing and presenting a business plan for and following through on the University's first campus-wide ethernet installation, under the guidance of former engineering dean Art Heidebrecht. He explains, “This was fantastic training for the need to take a business approach to complex technical problems in the world at large.”

The event will take place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Royal York Hotel, Territories Room, Toronto.