Excess Data

	@googlewave.com email addresses
	Advanced n-person SCRUM methodology
	Microsoft + .Net Micro = Open Source...?
	Review: Motorola RIZR Z8
	Touch me Will Robinson

Join Now
Enter email address

GI Rising Star: Gino Cosme By Annie Geek-o-vitz 5 October, 2007 Found in : people   Comment     Submit to Slashdot Email     Digg this Print     Add to del.icio.us External Links www.cosmedia.co.za Gino's Facebook Profile

The greatest gift anyone in this industry can have is being able to speak with an audience in plain English.

South Africa based Gino Cosme is a communications whiz kid who spends his days helping folks in and out of the industry, around the world, understand the net, online marketing, social media and more. He's a smart, gorgeous guy dedicated to independent commentary and keen to affect a difference - making him eminently pin-up worthy in our eyes.

GI: What's the biggest challenge in the world of high-tech in Africa, in your opinion & experience?

GC: The challenges facing Africa is for the improvement of technological infrastructure and the costs thereof, especially amongst disadvantaged communities.

I also think that the effective education and motivation of Africa’s people through school and thought leaders - who themselves need to be taught on the advances in technology - on how technology advances can play a pivotal role in helping Africans feel connected instead of isolated from the rest of the world, furthermore improving vital skills such as entrepreneurship, to guarantee independence and self-support.

GI: Who's the coolest person you've met working in tech, and why did they make an impression?

GC: BBC technology journalist Bill Thompson was a pleasure to connect with at a recent conference in Germany. In my opinion, he is a skilled commentator who has been around in this industry for quite some time and has a lot to share with those who get to be in his company.

The greatest gift anyone in this industry can have is being able to speak with an audience in plain English. Not many people can do that.

GI: Tell us about your offline self - what relaxes you, stimulates you?

GC: When I am not in front of my Mac or running from one meet to the other, I like to literally disconnect from the world by taking breaks. For me, it confirms that life does exist beyond technology. Often, we forget that there is more to life than just work!

Being able to look after and enjoy the company of yourself, those you love, and the things you enjoy are key for me. Making my clients happy and working hard is a way of realizing this priority.

Imagine the rush of abseiling down a mountain and quad biking through a nature reserve, or just watching a sunset or sharing a fantastic meal with someone you love. That’s what gives me inspiration.

GC: I remember when my folks bought my sister and I a desktop computer – it was a Mecer 386 – and I started playing around with Windows, Mirc and Netscape that came preloaded on the machine. The next thing I knew I was slotting in more memory, getting bigger hard-drives, and teaching myself the ropes.

From there, it was getting hooked by one new development at a time, and realizing that I was a communicator and marketer at heart.

GI: What's your greatest asset?

GC: My greatest product and reward is the knowledge I can dissect with the people I work with.

Whether it’s someone who gets an AHA moment from listening to me speak or something I have written resonates some inspiration for a business owner. It's incredibly important and overwhelming to stay abreast with this constantly changing industry that spreads the globe, but by equipping myself with knowledge, I'm really creating further opportunities down the road ahead.

GI: Who's the sexiest person in tech? Why so?

GC: Whoever it is, I imagine it would be someone who is witty, intelligent and, yes, attractive, but passionate about issues both industry and society related.

GI: That's very non-committal! Now, boxers or briefs? :)

GC: Boxers.

GI: Why is smart sexy?

GC: LOL. I once read somewhere that the brain is the largest sex organ. Need I say more!?

GI: If you were a gadget, which would you be and why?

GC: I’d be a digital camera of an avid traveler. That way I would get to see the world and the wonderful variety of people that make it up.

Also written by Annie Geek-o-vitz

GI Pin-Up: Felicia Day		27 August, 2008
GI Pin Up: Ella Morton		29 January, 2008
GI Rising Star: Tom Wood		6 January, 2008
GI Pin Up: Andy McCaskey		3 December, 2007
GI Rising Stars: Gabriel Ortiz and Paul Starr		21 November, 2007
GI Pin-Up: Gina Trapani		10 October, 2007
GI Pin-Up: Jessica Corbin		12 August, 2007
GI Pin-Up: Brian McKechnie		25 July, 2007

Related Articles

GI Pin-Up: Brian McKechnie		6 October, 2007
GI Pin-Up: Jessica Corbin		6 October, 2007