Autumn 2015

We're pleased again to be able to offer we this unique class that you will find at no other university on the planet. Come listen to these eminent leaders discuss their vision of the future of software-powered businesses. The class is open to all Stanford students.

Course Outline

The first lecture will frame cloud computing from a business and technology point of view. The remaining lectures will be delivered by guest lecturers who will introduce their particular company and discuss the implications of cloud computing from their unique perspective. This quarter I have focused a little more on the coming enterprise and consumer application of the Internet of Things.

Guest Lecturers

  • Daniel C. Heintzelman is Vice Chairman of GE with responsibility for services and operations. In this role, he works across GE’s industrial business to further strengthen the company’s services, advanced manufacturing and product development capabilities. Before being appointed a company vice chairman, Dan was President & CEO of GE Oil & Gas and a GE senior vice president. GE Oil & Gas is an advanced technology equipment and services company that serves all segments of the oil and gas industry from extraction to transportation to end use. Dan joined GE in 1979 as a member of GE Aircraft Engines Management Development Program. Over the next 20 years, he progressed through leadership roles in the company and was appointed a GE company officer in 2000
  • James Park is Co-Founder of Fitbit Inc. and has been its Chief Executive Officer and President since September 2007. Mr. Park served as Director of Product Development at CNET Networks, where he led product management, engineering and design for Webshots. Fitbit just made a successful public offering.
  • Kenneth Kannappan serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Plantronics a $650-million maker of telephone headsets based in Santa Cruz, California and has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1999. You'll see his photo on highway 101.
  • Theresia Gouw Ranzetta, a partner at Accel Partners for 15 years, formed Aspect Ventures to invest in early-stage startups. In her career she invested early in real estate search engine Trulia (IPO 2012), and business security company Imperva (IPO 2011), as well as lifestyle web publisher Glam Media,Gouw’s first engineering job was at General Motors with 1,000 design engineers
  • Bernard J. Tyson, CEO, Kaiser. Bernard J. Tyson is the chairman and CEO of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., and Hospitals – known as Kaiser Permanente – one of America’s leading integrated health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. With annual operating revenue of $60 billion, Kaiser Permanente serves more than 10 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Tyson assumed the role of chairman in January 2014 and has served as CEO since July 1, 2013. His career at Kaiser Permanente has spanned more than 30 years, and he has successfully managed all major aspects of the organization, serving in roles from hospital administrator to division president to president and chief operating officer of the Oakland, California-based health care organization. Under Tyson’s leadership, Kaiser Permanente is delivering on its “Thrive” promise through an industry-leading 21st century approach to health care and health care coverage that is helping members achieve their aspirations of total health. Kaiser Permanente’s 180,000 employees and 18,000 physicians consistently deliver some of the best clinical outcomes in the nation, while the organization also is recognized as a leader in prevention, patient safety, quality and affordability.
  • Robert LeBlanc is Senior Vice President, IBM Cloud. In this role, he has global responsibility for IBM’s industry leading cloud portfolio of technology and services, including strategy, product design, offering development, marketing, sales, and service. Mr. LeBlanc also chairs IBM’s Technology Team, a senior executive team responsible for setting IBM’s technology agenda.
  • Andrew Thompson is co-founder, president and chief executive officer of Proteus Digital Health. His vision for Digital Medicine is focused on expanding global access to care, dramatically increasing the value delivered by drugs and creating a sustainable model for innovation that leverages the cell phone in everyone’s pocket. Andrew serves on the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneers selection committee and he is also a Co-Founder and Board member of Summit Schools, a leading Charter High School organization with a unique digital platform.

Background

The course is not technical, but of course assumes you have interest in the high technology business either from a consumer or enterprise point of view. For CS/EE students this is a unique way to learn about the business side of technology from some of the leaders in the industry. For the MBA students this is a way for you to understand this important sector of the economy. And for the MD, JDA, Art History or Journalism student consider registering as a way for you to get exposed to an area that will affect you in your personal and professional life.

For those who are not currently Stanford students

Enroll Now where you can self-enroll.