John Patrick

John Patrick is the president of Attitude LLC and was the vice president of Internet technology at IBM Corporation from 1995 to 2001. He worked at the company for thirty-eight years. Patrick serves on a number of boards, writes a popular personal blog, and speaks at conferences around the world. As IBM's chief Internet technology officer, Patrick led the company's efforts to exploit the potential of the Internet. He was also closely involved in IBM's strategic support of Linux, which significantly influenced demand across the industry. His insights and leadership have earned him recognition as an internet visionary, evidenced by accolades from Business 2.0, which named him one of the industry's most intriguing minds, Industry Week, which recognized him as one of the top 30 people driving innovation and economic growth, and Network World, which listed him as one of the 25 most powerful people in networking.

Patrick was a founding member of the World Wide Web Consortium at MIT in 1994, a founding member and past chairman of the Global Internet Project, a member of the Internet Society, a senior member of the Association for Computing Machinery, and a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He has served as a business and technology advisor to numerous companies and holds board memberships at WebMediaBrands Corporation and the Online Computer Library Center. His book, "Net Attitude: What It Is, How To Get It, And Why Your Company Can't Survive Without It," details the future of the Internet and the necessary attitudes to leverage it effectively, exploring both the psychological and cultural barriers that impact business engagement with the Internet.

While at IBM, Patrick initiated several innovative programs including the alphaWorks website, IBM’s online research and development laboratory for advanced Internet technology, and IBM’s successful Get Connected program to enhance Internet use both within the company and as a model for other companies. He joined IBM in 1967 and spent the first half of his career in various sales, marketing, and management positions. He was a pioneer and developer of IBM’s leasing business at IBM Credit Corporation, which became the largest computer leasing company in the world. He was subsequently the chief financial officer of various business units of IBM and was also vice president of operations for IBM’s Computer Integrated Manufacturing Business. In 1992, Patrick became vice president of marketing for IBM’s Personal Systems Division and was the senior marketing executive responsible for introducing the successful IBM ThinkPad brand. He earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Lehigh University, an M.S. in Management from the University of South Florida, and an LL.B. from LaSalle University, which he earned during his military service. Patrick is also completing a doctorate in healthcare administration, underscoring his commitment to lifelong learning and his particular interest in the intersection of healthcare and technology.