David Espindola - The Exponential Era

With 30 years of corporate experience behind me and about five years now in the role of leading a Management of Technology program at a university, I see a broad‐based need for this series that extends across industry, academia, government, and nongovernmental organizations. We expect to produce titles that are relevant for researchers, practitioners, educators, and others.

I am honored to be leading this important and timely publication venture.

Tariq Samad

Senior Fellow and Honeywell/W.R. Sweatt Chair in Technology Management

Director of Graduate Studies, M.S. Management of Technology

Technological Leadership Institute | University of Minnesota

samad@ieee.org

IEEE Press Series on Technology Management, Innovation, and Leadership

IEEE Press445 Hoes Lane Piscataway, NJ 08854

IEEE Press Editorial BoardEkram Hossain, Editor in Chief

David Espindola

Michael W. Wright

This edition first published 2021

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Library of Congress Cataloging‐in‐Publication Data: Names: Espindola, David, author. | Wright, Michael W., author. Title: The exponential era: strategies to stay ahead of the curve in an era of chaotic changes and disruptive forces / David Espindola, Michael W. Wright. Description: Hoboken, New Jersey : Wiley‐IEEE Press, [2021] | Includes index. Identifiers: LCCN 2020044905 (print) | LCCN 2020044906 (ebook) | ISBN 9781119746515 (paperback) | ISBN 9781119746522 (adobe pdf) | ISBN 9781119746539 (epub) Subjects: LCSH: Business. | Business enterprises–Technological innovations. Classification: LCC HF5351 .E76 2021 (print) | LCC HF5351 (ebook) | DDC 338/.064–dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020044905LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020044906

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First and foremost, the glory belongs to the Lord.Second, I dedicate the book to the people that I love:Dawn, Kayla, Andre, Nair, Lidia, Juliana and Clarice. –David

To all of my daughters who are, and will be,leaders in our global quest to improve our only home, earth.And to my son for being a net contributor to a better future in business and life. –Michael

David Espindolais a Partner of Intercepting Horizons, a strategic advisory services firm. He also serves on the advisory board of the Technological Leadership Institute at the University of Minnesota.

As a former CIO, he has developed and implemented global technology strategies to drive business growth and has been part of the leadership team that delivered a business transformation program resulting in 5× revenue growth to more than $4 billion. Previously, as a consulting leader, he managed large and complex engagements at strategic accounts and sold several million dollars in software and services.

Before that, Espindola held leadership roles at two fast‐growing tech startups in Silicon Valley. One spun off into a successful business still operating today. The other grew 5× during his tenure, reaching over $400 million in revenues, resulting in a successful IPO.

Espindola was awarded an MBA from the American University and a BS in Engineering Management from the University of North Dakota. He is also a graduate of Stanford University’s Executive Education program.

Michael W. Wrightis a Partner of Intercepting Horizons and the author of the acclaimed New Business Normal . He is an active board member, a Sr. Fellow at the University of Minnesota (UMN), Chairman Emeritus of the Advisory Board for the UMN Technological Leadership Institute, and formerly an adjunct professor at Carlson School of Management where he taught strategic leadership.

In his extensive career, he has served as CEO, COO, and CMO, board member, author, business professor, futurist, speaker, and proven entrepreneur. He has delivered more than three decades of global P&L leadership for diverse public and privately held early stage to mature technology enterprises at scale. Throughout his career he has focused on leading‐edge semiconductor equipment and materials, fluid flow and filtration, instrumentation, software, cost modeling, and simulation product portfolios.