We sat down with Mike Wills, the VP of Technology at BlueModus and a Kentico MVP to learn about his journey in the technology industry and his significant contributions to the Kentico community. Mike shares his unique approach—a balanced blend of creativity, technical expertise, and empathy.
From psychology to VP of Technology
Can you tell us about your journey in the technology industry and what led you to your current role as VP of Technology at BlueModus?
When I was young, I thought I wanted to be a cartoonist. Interestingly, I got a degree in psychology, which is quite different from technology. However, there was a clue to my future in technology back in 6th grade when I wanted a computer simply because my friends had one. My first computer was a Commodore VIC-20, which I bought with strawberry picking money. I read the manual on programming and I made a little game. It was sort of like a Brick Out game and I loved it, but then we moved, and I left it at home and didn't look at a computer again until I was in college. A friend started a consulting business and got me involved, and soon I was working in the Visual Basic group at Microsoft. This experience was like boot camp for me and launched my career in distributed computing.
I first encountered Kentico while working on a project for the Seattle Foundation, which initially used Microsoft SharePoint. The platform was heavy and cumbersome. Later, when they wanted a redesign, I researched various platforms and was impressed by Kentico's transparency. Although the client initially chose another vendor, they realized Kentico would have been a cost-effective choice. My career path led me to BlueModus, where I’ve been able to focus on Kentico, eventually becoming a Kentico MVP.
Kentico MVP Talks
Mike Wills shares why he loves working with Kentico.
Infusing technology with creativity
I really like the creativity implied by the title of “Solutions Architect.” Would you say your job is to balance the technical and creative aspects of your projects to ensure they meet both functional and aesthetic goals?
Absolutely. Creativity is essential in my role. I recall a project for an architecture firm where I had to balance the technical requirements with the creative vision. Initially, one of the architects scoffed at the title "Solutions Architect,” but creativity in this role involves imagining and designing abstract systems and troubleshooting complex problems. For example, I worked with a developer who had experience with the Loral Air Defense System in the 70s. He taught me that designing software is like creating music—it's about abstract ideas and precise thinking. What's made me think about that even more is getting involved in hiring at BlueModus.
A lot of times I've been dazzled by someone's book smarts. But what really makes a difference is someone's ability to think very precisely about abstract concepts. In a sense, when designing software, we're designing something completely abstract.
Joining the Kentico MVP community
Can you share your journey to becoming a Kentico Xperience MVP and what this recognition means to you personally and professionally?
Becoming a Kentico MVP was a series of pinch-me moments. Getting the job at BlueModus was the first, followed by working on significant projects like the one for Patterson Companies, where we implemented Kentico in a headless architecture. Speaking at Kentico Connections in 2019 was another highlight.
I remember as I was going up the steps to present with my customer from Patterson Companies, who was speaking with me, I just turned my head and said, “I should just trip over these steps now and get it over with.” All I wanted to do was not bomb. That's all I wanted to do, not embarrass myself. I get up there and I start talking, and Petr Palas is right there in the front taking a picture of every slide. He liked the presentation and wanted to talk—I couldn't believe it was happening to me. That led to me getting to be an MVP, too.
Celebrating 20 years of innovation with Mike Wills
An interview with Mike Wills
The MVP status has deepened my connection with the Kentico community and provided a direct line of communication with the product team, which is invaluable for understanding and advocating for customer needs. It boosts our confidence in recommending Kentico, knowing we have a responsive and innovative team behind us.
Being connected to the product team at Kentico has been very valuable and I think for me, and BlueModus, it also allows us to have a direct line of communication about what our customers' needs are. Kentico has been so, so responsive to all the feedback we bring to them about our customers' needs again and again. We feel like integrity is important, and we're not worried about our integrity when we're recommending Kentico.
Engaging with the tech community
As an experienced public speaker, what topics are you most passionate about, and how do you engage with the tech community?
I’m passionate about sharing my experiences, especially the lessons learned from missteps in projects. For example, for a headless project that I did, I started out thinking like a developer when approaching the content model. Thinking like a developer when approaching the content model meant looking at the designs. I made a model that enabled lots of code reuse and code elegance.
It was perfect for code reuse but impractical for authors. Realizing this mistake led me to focus on content models that prioritize the author's experience and the content's meaning. Sharing these insights helps others avoid similar pitfalls.
The basics of Content Modeling with Mike Wills, Kentico MVP
Mike Wills breaks down the essentials of content modeling
Key advice for navigating digital changes
Mentoring is one of your specialties. What are some key pieces of advice you give to young professionals in your field?
I often advise young professionals to bridge the gap between business decision-makers and technology. This skill is rare but crucial. Walking in the shoes of non-technical users and having empathy for their experience is essential. This approach not only improves communication but also enhances the design and usability of technical solutions. If you can be good at that, then you'll be the one that they're constantly trusting and reaching out to.
I was given that advice early in my career—to bridge the gap. It's rare in software. It's rare in engineering, and it was even rare in finance. I thought that was surprising. This advice ties into our discussion about content modelling. What woke me up about all the other principles that were important in content modelling was first taking the time to walk in the author's shoes and imagine what their life is like. They do this for hours a day, or weeks, not just once to prepare for a demo. That really got my attention, and I think it has a lot to do with having empathy for the non-technical users of a system and being able to communicate with them. Being able to imagine what their life is like and frankly, to care.
Adapting to changes on the horizon
With over 25 years of experience, how have you seen the field of web development evolve, and how do you adapt to these changes? What trends do you foresee in web development and digital marketing over the next few years?
The introduction of AI and the global economy have brought significant changes. Developers once feared their jobs would be outsourced or automated. However, the need for human expertise to guide and navigate these technologies remains crucial. AI and low-code/no-code platforms might change how we work, but they won’t replace the need for thoughtful, creative problem-solving. Humans will always need someone to guide them through these technical changes.
The changes create more demand for guides, so my advice to technical people is don't be afraid. Instead rise to the challenge and help other people navigate the technology changes. Recognize that your real value is your expertise and guidance.
Mike Wills' journey to becoming a tech industry expert is a testament to the value of combining creativity with technical expertise. His contributions to the Kentico community and his innovative approach as VP of Technology at BlueModus have made a significant impact on the tech community. As we look to the future, embracing Mike’s approach to technology while maintaining empathy and creativity will be key to success.
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