Dana Gardner
President and Principal Analyst at Interarbor Solutions.
Dana Gardner is President and Principal Analyst at Interarbor Solutions, an enterprise IT analysis, market research, and consulting firm. Gardner honed his skills and refined his insights as an industry analyst, pundit, and news editor covering the software development, enterprise infrastructure, and hybrid cloud arenas for the last 21 years. He has been the host and producer of the 800-plus episode BriefingsDirect podcast and associated blog since 2006. Gardner is a highly rated global influencer on such topics as cloud, data management, security, and digital transformation. Gardner is a former senior analyst at Yankee Group and Aberdeen Group, and a former editor-at-large and founding online news editor at InfoWorld. He is a former news editor at IDG News Service, Digital News & Review, and Design News.
How did you get to become an expert in your key topics?
I began as news editor for several IT industry trade magazines in 1988, ending as editor at large at InfoWorld in 1998. I became an IT industry analyst that year for Aberdeen Group and then Yankee Group. I founded my own analyst firm in 2005. I began doing enterprise IT-focused blogs and podcasts in 2006.
What topic areas are you most passionate about?
I am passionate about Hybrid IT, Data Analytics, Digital Transformation, Security, and Remote Work Technologies.
Which influencers influence you within those key topics?
David Linthicum, Tony Baer and Gartner analysts.
Outside of key topics, who else influences you?
Leaders of IT companies.
How would you describe your offline influence?
Not much these days given there is no business travel.
If a brand wanted to work with you, which activities would you be most interested in collaborating on?
Podcasts, interviews and videos.
What’s your best source of information for getting ahead of a story?
What brands have you worked with?
HPE, IBM, SAP, Citrix, Unisys, The Open Group, Dell, ServiceNow, Microsoft, AWS, Bitdefender, VMware, Micro Focus, Qlik, UiPath, Vertiv.
Which non-paid activities would you be keen to take part in if the opportunity raised your profile or delivered value to your audience?
I am open to providing quotes, sharing or creating a social post, participating in a podcast, webinar or an online chat.
What are your passions outside of work?
Active in community theatre, community development, historic site preservation, hiking, boating, skiing.
What would be the best way for a brand to contact you?
Email me: dgardner@interarbor-solutions.com