Meet Your OpenStack Training Instructor: Damian Igbe, PhD
In this installment of “Meet Your OpenStack Training Instructor”, our interview subject is Damian Igbe.
Tell us more about your background. How did you become involved in OpenStack training?
I achieved my PhD in Computer Science from the University of Westminster, UK, and I did my research in the field of distributed systems/High Performance Computing (HPC). The cloud is a natural extension of my research and technical experience.
After spending several years as a “techie” with a research degree, I wanted to explore an opportunity that would let me take full advantage of both my technical and communication skills. The Mirantis OpenStack training opportunity provides a perfect extension for these skills, letting me share my technical experience while also exchanging ideas with my peers.
What do you enjoy most about training?
Sharing knowledge, ultimately this is what fuels my passion for training. I know it may sound obvious, but until I completely master a difficult concept, I don’t feel I am ready to teach others. Therefore, I am driven by the challenge of taking a difficult subject and presenting it in a way that makes it easy for others to understand.What particular challenges or opportunities will Mirantis OpenStack training help students meet?
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” ? Benjamin Franklin
Focused on providing a hands-on experience, the Mirantis OpenStack Training course perfectly aligns with this mantra. After completing the course, Mirantis students are given the skills they need to get their hands dirty. Our goal is to make sure every student has the resources and technical expertise required to plan their cloud deployments. We also structure our course in a way that will clear up any misconceptions a student may have previously held.
What kinds of professionals are most likely to benefit from participating in this class?
At its core, our training is geared towards Cloud Architects, Storage and Network Architects, and Systems Administrators. However, beyond that, anyone with more than just a passing interest in state-of-the-art IT technology will enjoy the Mirantis OpenStack training experience.
What advice would you give our readers who want to learn more about OpenStack?
Obviously, Mirantis OpenStack training provides fantastic foundational knowledge. In addition, students wishing to continue this experience, and gain an even deeper understanding, should check out the OpenStack Summit videos. The Mirantis OpenStack training course builds the base, while the OpenStack Summit videos offer an avenue for continuing their education.
What’s one interesting fact or story about you that your students would be surprised to learn?
The first thing I pack when travelling for training are my pair of jogging shoes, a nice pair of Mizuno Wave Rider :-)
