I completed my Global Entry application earlier this week (www.globalentry.gov). They appeal to international travelers by promising the ability "to get on their way quickly and easily by using automated kiosks." The idea of an expedited process is very appealing. I've found that it's very hard for those customs officials to believe that you've been in a country or set of countries for 5 days and you didn't buy anything. Obviously they don't know the life of an analyst. I barely had time to eat and sleep; when would I have gone shopping?!? I get tired of having to explain that to these guys.

Yesterday, MindTree and their executive team came to Boston.  The event had the typical flavor at first, but what we very quickly heard was that KK’s (CEO, Krishnakumar Natarajan) strategic view sounded remarkably similar to what Forrester has recently been advocating - traditional IT services vendors must evolve to compete in the next decade of tech market changes. Though it would be presumptuous to say we saw the evolving offshore vendor dynamic first, Forrester recognized the same trends and client demands that KK and his colleagues presented.  In the end, it looks as though MindTree has made demonstrable strides in three keys areas, which border on proof rather than simple marketing-white-wash, to attest to their evolution:

1.  Client-centricity:  Every IT Services firm will claim a paramount focus on clients.  MindTree is one of the few who have told us (with some specifics) that they have actively wound down some outlying clients, in an attempt to re-double their efforts where they have a shared culture and a strong potential for future growth.  We heard directly from a client that this will likely result in a move to managed outcomes.  So there it is:  work so tightly with a preferred vendor that the trust necessary for a managed services relationship is not only logical – it’s inevitable.

I can't believe that I've been with Forrester for three weeks.  I am still learning cool new things every day but also feeling more at home as each day passes.  I've been very fortunate to have already had many interactions with so many sourcing and vendor management professionals.  I've really enjoyed getting to know so many of you and I'm totally psyched about all the questions you are asking and the things you want to talk about.  Keep them coming!  And speaking about psyched, I'm a huge fan of the TV show "Psych."  Shawn and Gus are the best!  Thank heavens for the invention of the DVR and the ability to watch the episodes I missed, all at once.  But I digress . . .

Despite being so psyched, I also have to deal with a lot of changes in my life:  leaving my previous company after nearly 28 years; moving from an office in downtown Minneapolis to a home office out in the suburbs; traveling more than working from home; working with a new team and meeting many new colleagues; switching to an iPhone after using a Blackberry for over 8 years; learning a whole new set of company applications, benefits, policies, procedures, tools and templates; and becoming a writer and a researcher.  But I'm still psyched.

Amidst all of this change, some key things in my life remain the same.  I’m still focused on offshore outsourcing, global delivery, and vendor management. These key areas of concentration have been my passion for the past 11+ years.  The thought of being able to focus on these areas full time is very exciting.  I’m so anxious to work with all of our clients.  I was in your shoes, I know what you are going through, and I know that I have a lot I can share with you and your company.