Tony Wasserman

Initiator
DISC Type : Di

Principal at Software Methods and Tools

San Francisco, California, United States

Overview

Tony is a software and strategy advisor focused on product management and open source adoption. A recognized ACM, IEEE, and IFIP Fellow, he was formerly a Professor at Carnegie Mellon Silicon Valley, where he led the development of the Software Management MS program, and holds a Ph. D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Outside of his professional work, Tony is an avid reader with a fondness for time travel novels and follows the evolution of web technology. He is a prolific world traveler, having visited more than 75 countries, and enjoys photography, posting many of his photos on Flickr.

Unique fact: Tony is the recipient of a 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award for over five decades of significant contributions to software engineering.

Personality Overview

Friendly Challenger

Conviction Driven

Confident

They measure a product on its merit but can be influenced by strong testimonials.  They respond well to objective pitches but also attach some value to relationships. They don’t mind taking a stand if they believe in something.

Topics They Care About

Open Source Strategy
Advises companies on adopting open source software and has served on the board of the Open Source Initiative. He is a frequent speaker at open source conferences.
Software Product Management
Consults with tech founders and software companies on product definition and strategy and taught these subjects as a professor at Carnegie Mellon University.
Software Engineering Education
Received IEEE Distinguished Educator and ACM Influential Educator awards for developing innovative software engineering and management curricula at Carnegie Mellon.

Media Appearances

Tony has no verified media appearances

Work History

1-1997
Principal at Software Methods and Tools
6-2006
Member (Chair 2015-2022) at IFIP Working Group 2.13 (Open Source Systems)
1-2005 - 5-2023
Professor of Software Management Practice at Carnegie Mellon Silicon Valley
4-2010 - 3-2016
Member, Board of Directors at Open Source Initiative (OSI)
1-2001 - 8-2002
Director, Mobile Middleware Lab, HP Middleware Division at Hewlett-Packard

Education

AB from University of California, Berkeley
Ph.D. from University of Wisconsin-Madison

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 16 Location : San Francisco, California, United States Job Level : Mid-senior Designation : Principal at Software Methods and Tools
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Insights For Selling To Tony

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Acknowledge their status and position during the conversation
  • Refer to testimonials from well known people to highlight the value of your product
  • Focus on the big picture and the strategic value of your product

DONT's

  • Avoid focusing only on the product or its ROI, keep building trust subtly
  • Don’t keep repeating the same information, it could make them impatient
  • Don’t be very informal even if they are being so themselves

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Tony is

  • Belief in the value of the product, relationship and a sense of accomplishment matter the most.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Tony

  • They are not shy of saying no if they do not develop trust in your product.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Tony move?

  • If they develop confidence in your product and you, then they can make fast decisions.
  • Can Tony take some risk or not?

  • If necessary, they have the ability to take risky decisions.

You And Tony

Personality Compatibility


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