Influential People: Paul Van Leer

At various points at the VM Workshop today, I heard people talk about their mentors or people that impacted them early in their careers. This brought back various memories for me. One of which was that of Paul Van Leer. Paul had been doing performance analysis ever since dirt was invented, or at least it seemed that way. In the very early 90s, the consolidation of VM work in Kingston to Endicott began. At the time, Paul was the IBM rep to the SHARE VM Performance Project. And my manager at the time, Eric Strom, told me I'd be the new rep from Endicott for the project. It was a turning point in my career and my appreciation for the product and community.

Paul cared a great deal about the product and the customers. He was going to do all he could to make sure I'd be a suitable IBM rep. At times he was like a Drill Sergeant; and other times like a father teaching a son to tie his shoes. Three particular stories come to mind.

Management thought it would be good for me to go to Kingston and spend time with Paul. Just going in his office was a bit intimidating. I'm not sure if it was the awards and such on the walls, the cloud of smoke in the room (you could smoke in your office in those days), or the combination. I remember he started out with telling me the disciplines of performance fell into: measurement, monitoring, analysis, design, and modeling. He paused and asked me if I understood. I thought a little before answering and said, "Yes, I think I've been exposed to all of that, but probably not to the depth you have." I was thinking that was a good answer I gave. Then suddenly I was hit with the mental equivalent of a Vulcan nerve pinch, when he smiled and said "Well, let me explain how you really don't know anything." Paul then spent the rest of the day showing me what it really was to have depth of practical knowledge. We reviewed various case studies and pages and pages of performance information. I left his office humbled and changed for the better.

The next story came a few months later when I did one of my first presentations at an IBM Specialist Update. I think this was in Atlanta, because I remember sweating a lot which didn't help the nerves (Remember this was back in the days of suits). I made it through my presentation okay. Later in the day I was walking to a session and passed a small vending area. There, sitting at one of the tables, was Paul. He motioned me over. And then proceeded to give me several pointers and corrections for my presentation. Just when I started to think that maybe I wasn't cut out to be a speaker, Paul smiled and told me that I'll do fine, I just needed a little more practice.

The third story happened at a SHARE conference which was to be the cross-over conference for us. Paul's last as IBM rep to the project and my first. Somehow, there was a mess up and the registration folks wouldn't give me an IBM ribbon for my badge. At one of the planning meetings, someone noticed that I was missing a ribbon. Paul was sitting next to me. He took out a pocket knife and unfolded it. My eyes got bigger as I tried to think of what I might have done wrong. Holding his own ribbon tightly, he slice it down the middle and handed me half of it. And then, I knew that everything was going to be okay.

Paul would tell me, "Remember, your job is to represent IBM to the Customer, and the Customer to IBM". That has stuck with me. Rarely does a conference go by that those words don't echo in my mind.