The Marconi Society sustains itself through partnerships, grants, and philanthropy. As we continue to grow our programming at the intersection of digital equity and advanced technology, our network of supporters play a vital role in making our work possible. Through the Funding Digital Inclusion series, we interview the change makers who invest in the future of digital equity.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your company.
In 1998, when I was a professor of applied mathematics at MIT’s Laboratory for Computer Science (now called the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory), my graduate student, Danny Lewin, and I founded a company called Akamai to solve what people back then called the “world wide wait.” Akamai was a pioneer in content delivery, which means that we delivered web content on behalf of major web sites to users all around the world. Since then, the company has evolved into one of the most essential and trusted cloud delivery and cybersecurity platforms. Many of the world’s best brands and enterprises use our massively distributed global platform to build, accelerate and secure their digital experiences. Our mission is to power and protect life online. And our purpose in doing that is to make life better for billions of people, billions of times a day. For the first 14 years of Akamai’s history, I served as chief scientist. For the last 10 years, I’ve been the company’s CEO. Both roles have given me a great opportunity to help guide innovation at a very innovative company, one that is full of brilliant and highly talented engineers from all over the world.
2. What is your history with the Marconi Society?
In 2018, the Marconi Society honored me with the Marconi Prize for contributions to technology and the establishment of content delivery networks. It was a special honor for me personally, having worked in the field for as long as I have and knowing so much about the accomplishments of previous Marconi Prize winners. Since then, I’ve had the privilege to become more involved in the Society’s activities, which are helping to shape the future of communication and our lives.
3. Why is digital equity important to you?
When you look at the demographic of people employed in tech, you can’t help but see that we have a long way to go as an industry, and as a society, to open the doors of opportunity to everyone. Equal opportunity is fundamentally important. As a teacher who has had the privilege to teach so many brilliant students over the years, I believe that individual talent is precious, and that people of diverse backgrounds can make substantial contributions to our industry and our lives if we give them the opportunity. That’s why we created something called the Akamai Technical Academy. It’s an in-house educational program that trains non-technical professionals from populations that are underrepresented in the tech industry to prepare them for technical careers. The success we have had with the program demonstrates what people are capable of achieving if given a chance.
4. What inspired you to donate to the Marconi Society?
The Marconi Society connects and supports innovators who are connecting the world. At a time when the world is under threat from the challenges of climate change, war, disease, cyber attacks and inequality, we need better ways to stay connected, and to help the next generation inherit a better world.
5. How do you hope to impact the world through philanthropy?
I’ve been personally committed to increasing and inspiring the pipeline of students pursuing STEM careers, first as a mathematics professor at MIT and now in my role at Akamai. I try to encourage the next generation of technology innovators by supporting STEM education, with a focus on the pursuit of excellence in mathematics in grades K-12, whether through efforts such as The Akamai Foundation, The Center for Excellence in Education, the Society for Science and the Public (which sponsors the Regeneron Science Search), The Mathematical Association of America (which sponsors the Math Olympiad), the Math Competition for Girls, and Girls Who Code (which we host every summer at Akamai). Math programs that reach students at a young age can inspire them to embrace math and realize that math can be magical and fun. This can later lead to exciting careers dedicated to solving problems in ways that, ultimately, can make life better for millions, if not billions, of people on our planet. My passion is really about encouraging the next generation of innovators that can make our world a better place for all.
