Five Questions For Mark Shavlik, CEO of Shavlik TechnologiesFive Questions For Mark Shavlik, CEO of Shavlik Technologies

hotograph by Doug Knutson

1

MICROSOFT PIONEER
When Shavlik started with Microsoft in 1986 at the age of 23, the company's original Bellevue, Wash., campus was located in the middle of a forest with a new road rolling over the landscape to provide access to the buildings. "Everything was new, and everything we did had a big impact. It was an exciting time."

2

RUNNING ON NT
"The whole company realized pretty quickly that OS/2 wasn't going to happen but that Windows was. So, putting two and two together, we knew NT was going to be big."

3

ON CALL
Shavlik spread his wings in 1993 but didn't stray far from Microsoft. The company he founded performed consulting and other services for Microsoft customers, since Microsoft didn't have a services division." All of our business for the first three years came from Microsoft referrals."

4

AGAINST THE ODDS
Shavlik's company today focuses on delivering network security and patch management software. "The bad guys only need to be right once. We need to be right all the time. The odds are in their favor."

5

BYE, BILL
Microsoft will miss Bill Gates as he focuses more on his charitable work. "There are some traits that Gates has that will be hard to replace. He is extremely driven. He listens to what customers need. He always listens to ideas from employees and customers. Microsoft will likely take a more collaborative approach to make up for all of that."