Ángel Rodríguez

MIMS 2012
Technical Program Manager
Google

My life before the I School

I received my M.S. degree in computer engineering in Spain, then worked as a software developer for the government of the Canary Islands, where I come from. Later, I joined an engineering group of the European Space Agency based in Madrid, where my main task was maintaining systems, network, and software to remotely control European experiments on board the International Space Station. I was also on the teaching staff of a space technology master's program at the Polytechnic University of Madrid.

Why information, and why the I School

I’ve always been interested in how to manage the heterogeneous and enormous load of information the aerospace industry has to handle, as well as how to organize teams and individuals to achieve this task in an efficient way. My work experience made it very clear to me that the industry needs professionals who understand this problem, not only from a technical standpoint, but also from a sociological one. The I School provides students with the knowledge to develop that skill set. Also, being a UC Berkeley student allows me to enrich my academic profile by taking classes in other schools and departments.

What stands out about the I School

At the I School, you’re in contact with students from all around the world. The interdisciplinary nature of the place and the diversity of languages, views, and backgrounds here reflect the inherent nature of information. You meet not just engineers but also people with radically different backgrounds from yours, but who share your interests and motivations.

An I School advantage

The Bay Area is a great place to be if you love technology.  This is where the magic happens, and at the I School we all benefit from that.  A couple months after starting the program, I was already feeling that two years was not going to be enough time to learn from the UC Berkeley experience.

My focus at the I School

My main interests focus on information systems architecture, and on the development of mobile applications. I also learned about the innovation process, decision-making, business and finances — knowledge I need to perform the management tasks that are required of me as a professional.

Information issues that intrigue me

Information challenges adopt different shapes across time. The I School prepares you to understand these changes by looking at the big picture and addressing issues from a broader perspective.

How I see the future of information

For many user needs, there is either no technical solution yet or the approach to the solution is not as natural as it should be. In 10 years, I expect information services and applications for the masses to be delivered in a much more personalized way, through devices like smart meters that help us consume less energy, appliances that suggest what is best for us to eat, or tell us what’s left in the freezer. We can already see some of these applications today, but in the future they will be truly interconnected. We will have automatic recommendations as to what is best for us based on our profile and needs. And we won’t even need to ask for it.