Niall Kennedy quits MS, speaks of Win Live troubles | The Coffeehouse

Badgerguy
Badgerguy

Not sure of this has allready been posted, but RSS wiz Niall Kennedy, who only joined Microsoft a few months ago and joined the Windows Live efforts, has quit - and not in a good way

"Windows Live is under some heavy change, reorganization, pullback, and general paralysis and unfortunately my ability to perform, hire, and execute was completely frozen as well...If we had the resources I truly believe we could have tackled the number of users Hotmail, Messenger, Spaces, or even Internet Explorer might supply, and then ask for more by opening up the platform to the world...It's easier to get funding outside Microsoft than inside at the moment, so I am stepping out and doing my own thing."

The article has a small interview with Niall, in which he makes it clear that had Microsoft given him the resources he needed, he'd have stayed.

Is this a Microsoft employee throwing a tantrum, or a sign of a real management problem impacting the Windows Live teams? - I certainly hope not, because allot of the Windows Live stuff is pretty good IMHO. Either way, frankly when the talent leaves, it's allot more concerning to those of us who use and promote technology than when a Manager or cheif-bigcheese leaves. If Niall is all he's cracked up to be, then how have Microsoft let him slip away so soon?

Jason Cox
Longtime C9 Lurker

Badgerguy wrote:
Is this a Microsoft employee throwing a tantrum, or a sign of a real management problem impacting the Windows Live teams? - I certainly hope not, because allot of the Windows Live stuff is pretty good IMHO. Either way, frankly when the talent leaves, it's allot more concerning to those of us who use and promote technology than when a Manager or cheif-bigcheese leaves. If Niall is all he's cracked up to be, then how have Microsoft let him slip away so soon?

I'd vote for the tantrum. Microsoft is investing ALOT of money into Windows Live so I dont think what he's saying is 100% truthful. Also, the guy is leaving to start his own business, wanting to start your own business is just going to accelerate your plans to leave your current job.

LaBomba
Summer

Jason Cox wrote:

Badgerguy wrote: Is this a Microsoft employee throwing a tantrum, or a sign of a real management problem impacting the Windows Live teams? - I certainly hope not, because allot of the Windows Live stuff is pretty good IMHO. Either way, frankly when the talent leaves, it's allot more concerning to those of us who use and promote technology than when a Manager or cheif-bigcheese leaves. If Niall is all he's cracked up to be, then how have Microsoft let him slip away so soon?
I'd vote for the tantrum. Microsoft is investing ALOT of money into Windows Live so I dont think what he's saying is 100% truthful. Also, the guy is leaving to start his own business, wanting to start your own business is just going to accelerate your plans to leave your current job.

heh, and i suppose you have better knowledge of the inner workings of windows live than a key player inside the team.

might agree with your last point, if niall had been at microsoft longer than the very short period of time he was. something went wrong, and i don't think he's straying far from the truth.

Rossj

Looking at his CV he hasn't stayed anywhere for longer than a year, so it is unsurprising really.

LaBomba
Summer

Rossj wrote:
Looking at his CV he hasn't stayed anywhere for longer than a year, so it is unsurprising really.

yeah, but those companies weren't microsoft.

you don't go to microsoft for a few months and then quit.

erik_
Tablet Power

LaBomba wrote:

Rossj wrote: Looking at his CV he hasn't stayed anywhere for longer than a year, so it is unsurprising really.

yeah, but those companies weren't microsoft.

you don't go to microsoft for a few months and then quit.

It might be he wanted to start a business at his own before he joined microsoft, but wasn't sure/there yet and made a bad choice.

It might sound weird that choosing Microsoft is a bad choice, but if you really want to work for yourself than things differ.

ubercoder
Hakuna Matata

Unless he "used" Microsoft to get the info he needed to start his business.

What kind of business is he starting???

petknep_home

bundyum

Dare Obasanjo blogged that some of what Niall wrote was inacurrate or based on speculation:

http://www.25hoursaday.com/weblog/PermaLink.aspx?guid=870e78c0-7596-4f06-b60c-62fa81e80e42

jamie

its on Mini too - once again the comments are the most interesting. Basically all reaming the guy (like the cartoon above - ps haha Wink

)

<ie7 - allow access - paste>

http://minimsft.blogspot.com/2006/08/niall-sez-microsoft-is-too-big-and.html

* i hate blogger - to get to the article with the comments - you need to click the time url - not the heading Tongue Out