Q & A with Diane Bisgeier, WebFWD’s Program Manager

Tell us a bit about your background and how you got connected to WebFWD?
I cut my teeth in the technology world at a business development and venture firm that brokered deals between Silicon Valley startups and large conglomerates in the Far East. The environment was so stimulating that I caught the startup bug for life. I went on to join a startup myself (think “Second Life in a narrowband world” and you can imagine why it might have a bit too bleeding edge) and then to do executive recruiting at the height of the first dotcom boom.

I escaped the insanity to get an MBA at UC Berkeley, followed by an 8-year stint at Charles Schwab. I started in product management for a web-based portfolio allocation application and ultimately I supported the CIO in his communications initiatives for Schwab’s 1,000+ technology professionals.

In 2009, I reentered the world of high tech, joining a health care technology startup (takeaway: health care is a tough business to disrupt!), then a mobile game company (takeaway: mobile app discovery in a world dominated by an AppStore or two is brutal). I helped produce some neat industry events including Geo-Loco, Social-Loco and a few TEDxSFs.

What was it that drew you to the WebFWD opportunity?
Given that I’ve been on the two ends of the “innovation spectrum” - from scrappy startup to a leading Wall Street firm - I was intrigued by Mozilla’s legacy of leading-edge innovation built through a vast global open source community, as opposed to an exclusive or closed team.

What really drove the significance of this home for me was a big “aha” moment in my interview process: I was talking with Mike Hanson in Mozilla Labs when I connected the dots that open source innovation is as much about community as it is about code. At the time I was consulting for a social media agency hired by big brands to get their customers to “engage” in their respective communities. These brands were paying extraordinary sums of money to simply encourage users to click the “Like” button. The contrast to Mozilla was astonishing: 40% of Firefox code is written by volunteer talent. It’s a movement and a way of operating that became compelling.

Can you share some of your first impressions?
First impressions began with the interview process I mentioned above: Mozilla struck me as a very special place that collects the best - and most passionate - minds in technology. The people I met are truly committed to innovating to make the Web (and world) a better place. It’s the best of technology, innovation and mission, and being here feels like I’ve won the lottery.

This was reinforced at our weeklong All-Hands meeting held during my second week on board. I had the opportunity to see firsthand how this crazy collective of brilliance - distributed worldwide - functions in a very special way. I feel privileged to extend this vision by supporting projects that amplify and extend Mozilla’s mission. Our first two WebFWD Fellows - OpenPhoto and CASH Music - are inspiring examples of how entrepreneurs can use open innovation to bring real change to people’s lives.

What’s the most unexpected thing that’s happened since you started?
I was invited to hear President Obama address unemployment at a LinkedIn Town Hall earlier this week. Afterwards, a reporter approached me to get my reactions and I had the chance to describe the work we were doing at WebFWD. I shouldn’t have been surprised by how intrigued he was: on Pascal’s recent European press tour, he found that journalists and entrepreneurs quickly became “believers” after learning more about WebFWD. It was a fun surprise for me nonetheless!

What is your greatest hope for the next year?
To really make a difference in the future of open projects that change the world.

Specifically, that means honing in on the value we can offer to the right set of projects, developing a solid marketing plan, and crystallizing our program so we can implement it effectively. We’re eating the dog food of Lean Methodology and applying it directly to WebFWD. I’m keen to see it play out for the future of the Web!