Bob Muglia

Author Spotlight Q&A

By Becky Monk

When Bob Muglia stepped down from his role as CEO of Snowflake in 2019, he didn’t walk away from the tech industry. He doubled down on his roles as an advisor, board member and investor to help other companies bring innovative new ideas to life. And he started writing his first book, “The Datapreneurs: The Promise of AI and the Creators Building Our Future.”

The Connecticut-born Microsoft alum said his passion for technology and data won’t let him slow down.

“As you might guess, I’m super-passionate about data, the ways to manage it, and where it will help us in the future. Data is everywhere, all around us, and the volume of it continues to grow exponentially. We’ve come a long way, but there’s still so much more to do as technology advances,” said Bob, who’s in his 60s. “I don’t want to retire. I’m doing what I love, and I want to help the industry advance.”

Bob has put his own stamp on the industry. He joined Microsoft in 1988 as the first technical person on SQL. Over the next two decades, his work included developer tools, applications, online services and the Windows Server operating system.

When he left the company in 2011, Bob was president of the Server and Tools Division.

“It was amazing to be part of technology advancement there for 23 years,” the Mercer Island, Washington, resident said.

In “The Datapreneurs,” Bob teamed up with tech journalist Steve Hamm to tackle the evolution — or arc — of the tech industry. He said, “the book is part memoir, part exploration of ingenious people and inventions, and part call to action.”

Bob is the closing keynote speaker for the Alumni Network’s Connect 2023 global summit on September 28 and 29. In advance of his talk, we caught up with him for a sneak preview and to learn more about “Datapreneurs,” the arc of innovation and what’s next.

What’s “The Datapreneurs: The Promise of AI and the Creators Building Our Future” about? The book explores the people and critical pivots in tech history that catapulted us into the modern age of computing and AI. The book shares this through personal anecdotes – including some interesting backstories – and all the inspiration I’ve received from datapreneurs worldwide. The book is part memoir, part exploration of ingenious people and inventions, and part call to action.

Who should read “The Datapreneurs?” Anyone interested in the past, present and future of data – and how it underlies AI – will enjoy reading it. Steve Hamm and I wanted to avoid making a book that reads like a technical whitepaper. Instead, the book describes how data management and analytics technologies helped build today’s economy and society. We tell that story in part by describing some of the inventors I’ve known, including famous ones like Bill Gates and Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, and others that are not household names — yet, anyway.

What was it that inspired you to write this book? I hoped some of my learnings – and work with datapreneurs – could be valuable to others driving technology forward in the coming decades.

Who are the “datapreneurs,” and why should we read a book about them? Steve Hamm and I wanted to come up with a term that adequately described the importance of innovation in the data space, and the remarkable people with the vision and skills to make it happen. “Datapreneurs” seemed a perfect way to describe them! I’d encourage everyone to check out the Datapreneurs YouTube Channel and watch the panel discussions we held to launch the book.

In your book, you introduce the “Arc of Data Innovation” to visualize our technological progress while making knowledgeable predictions of what is to come. Can you explain how this concept came to fruition? I wanted to find a simplified visual to help readers see the past roots of computing, the technological advances we see today, and how robotics and AI will see enormous advancement. Eventually, AI will be smarter than an average human. And someday, it will be smarter than all people combined.

AI has been on technologists’ radar for years but is just now taking center stage for businesses and individuals. Where is AI on your Arc of Data Innovation, and what’s next? We’re already in an age of AI. Businesses, research institutions and the government already use machine learning – and, increasingly, deep learning – to gather and extract insights from vast information. Even on our phones, we have access to digital assistants like Bing, Bard and ChatGPT. Those tools improve all the time to provide more value to everyday people. It’s incredible to see what’s already possible today.

You mention in the book the necessity for a new social contract if we hope for AI to be a tool used to benefit humanity. What do you believe this new social contract should entail? Yes, this is a hugely important topic. As a business leader, I think a lot about the importance of ethics, values and their role in society. In the context of Al, we want intelligent machines to work for and with us, not against us. Tech industry leaders generally acknowledge that government has a role in regulating ethical artificial intelligence usage. In his 1942 short story “Runaround,” Asimov published the Three Laws of Robotics. He later added a fourth he called the “Zeroth Law.” These laws are marvelous in their simplicity and impact and can serve as a template that guides interactions between robots, people and humanity in general.

What advancement from the Arc of Data Innovation are you most eager to see built? Over my career, I’ve had the opportunity to be involved with – or at least very aware of – many milestones on the Arc of Data. I’m most excited to see where we’re headed. In my lifetime, I want to see Asimov’s ideas come to fruition. We will see enormous advancements in the coming years.

What advice would you like to offer aspiring “datapreneurs”? The future is powered by data. This field is exploding with advancement and innovation now and will continue to grow. I’m hard-pressed to think of a better field to immerse in. I hope some people who read our book will pursue the area because there’s an enormous opportunity to shape the future of humankind.

What was the most rewarding part of completing this book? It’s been quite a journey over my decades in the tech industry. I’m thankful for the inspiration of the many brilliant people I’ve been lucky enough to work with. The book recognizes and celebrates the contributions of datapreneurs who changed – and continue to change – the world.

You partnered with veteran tech journalist Steve Hamm to write "The Datapreneurs." What was having a writing partner like, and how did it work? Steve is an excellent writing partner. He’s outstanding at telling a story in a way that engages a reader. Plus, it’s great to have a constant reality check from a veteran journalist like Steve.

What technology do you use when you’re writing? Usually, it’s just my laptop. I also had many in-person talks with datapreneurs. They sometimes used whiteboards to explain their ideas to me. So, I’m living proof that “analog” data transfer is not obsolete! While I’ve built my career around tech, a conversation with someone still has so much value.

Do you prefer to read a physical book, or an eBook? I take my iPad everywhere and that is my primary reading device. We published "The Datapreneurs" in paper, audio and e-formats so readers can choose what’s best for them.

Do you have a soundtrack when you write? I love music, but I usually prefer a quiet room while writing. Lately, I’ve been listening to Jim Allchin’s award-winning blues albums. Jim was a visionary senior leader at Microsoft. Jim’s still a tech genius, but it’s fun to see him pursue a musical career. He’s an excellent guitarist.

Must have snack/drink/when writing? It depends on the time of day. From noon to 4 p.m., it is probably a Diet Coke.

Did you like to read as a child? Absolutely! I read many classic science fiction books and especially loved those written by Isaac Asimov. In the 1940s and ‘50s, Asimov envisioned a world where robots could serve people and society in countless beneficial ways.

Your favorite childhood book? That’s a tough call, but the Foundation series is a classic.

Was there any book that made you want to be a writer? If so, what? It may sound funny, but I never really set out to be an author. I always focused on building technology instead of writing about it. But concepts from science fiction books certainly inspired my interest, and I felt I had an important story to tell through The Datapreneurs.

If you could invite three other authors over for a dinner party, who would they be and why? I’ve talked much about Asimov and how his science fiction inspired me. It saddened me when he passed, given his impact on my thinking. But, if it were possible to have him over for dinner, he’d be the first author I’d invite. However, it’s difficult to decide who gets the remaining two seats! If Carl Sagan were still with us, I’d love the chance to talk to him. James Burke, the British historian who wrote Connections, would be very interesting.

Favorite literary hero/villain? Hal, from 2001: A Space Odyssey, does a good job of playing both roles.

What is one question you have always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you respond to that? In the context of "The Datapreneurs," one question many people ask me often is whether we should be optimistic or worried about the future of AI. Like in the movie, The Terminator, will a Skynet-like intelligence take over the planet and decide to wage war on humanity?

My answer is no. I think the rapid evolution of AI represents a giant technological leap forward – much like the internet. Yes, a small number of people will always try to exploit any technology for nefarious purposes. However, the internet’s benefits drastically outweigh any downside. I believe AI can and will benefit humankind tremendously.

What’s next for you? Right now, I’m focused on my roles as an advisor, board member, and investor to help amazing companies bring their innovative ideas to life. Some of the businesses I’m involved with include RelationalAI, JuliaHub, Fivetran, Fauna, Pinecone, and Docugami. I don’t have plans for another book, but never say never!

Finally, a piece of advice for alumni aspiring to write and publish a book? I can’t speak for everyone. But I can tell you about some of my learnings while Steve and I worked on The Datapreneurs.

First, it’s essential to be passionate about the topic. We wanted to tell our story, and that goal kept us motivated.

Second, writing a book doesn’t always follow a schedule. Sometimes, I had to remind myself to be patient with the process. If you only feel like writing one paragraph some days, that’s still progress!

A third critical element is listening to other experts, gathering unique perspectives, and being open to the new ideas that will emerge from that exploration process. Steve and I could not have written this book without the help of many datapreneurs. Seek out people who can further your thinking and stretch your brain. And give them credit for their contributions to your work.

Lastly, I’d just say this: If you have a book idea in your head, write it! Everyone has an important story to tell, and it does not need to be about Microsoft, your career, or even technology. Yes, it’s daunting to think about writing an entire book. Start by writing an outline, then a page, then a chapter. Marathon runners don’t wake up one day and run 26 miles.

How can people learn more about you and your books? Go to www.TheDatapreneurs.com.