CEO Changing The Landscape Of How Philadelphia Businesses Use Technology
Thomas J. Gravina, is the chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Evolve IP, a cloud services provider located in Philadelphia, PA. Gravina received a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Villanova University and is an active alumnus sitting on the President's Leadership Committee.
What sort of education is needed to successfully do your job?
"I see education as multifaceted. First, there is formal education that you get through the school systems, etc. Then there is the education you get from life experience. To be successful, you have to combine both. Viewing every aspect of your life as a learning experience, can really open your mind and allow for a creative thought process. Just because you didn't learn something from a book or in a classroom doesn't make it any less valuable."
Do you believe education plays a vital role in landing a great job in the technology field?
"The reality of this world is that you need an education to be afforded certain opportunities, and I think it's what you do with those opportunities that can make or break a successful career. For technology, just as in most other professions, starting by learning the key fundamentals is crucial."
What is the most relevant aspect of your education that applies to your day-to-day job?
"I have always made it a point to hire passionate, driven, and focused people. We started Evolve IP in 2007 and we have grown tremendously since then. Everyone here knows and believes that what we are doing and creating is changing the landscape of how businesses use technology, and are willing to invest themselves and take risks in order to make it work. Having a team of people with that kind of commitment and passion for the company is one of the main reasons for our success."
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
"Watching other people become successful is extremely rewarding and fun for me. We have over 180 employees, some of whom joined us right out of college, some were new to the cloud services industry or technology industry and it has been really fun to watch them grow over the years. Not only seeing them advance in their careers, but to see them become active members of the communities we live in, build families, and become valuable members of the company that we built together."
Christina Thompson is a freelance writer living in Philadelphia. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
