Tuesday, May 29, 2018

The Benefits of Software as a Service


With more than 35 years of industry experience, John Teltsch held a number of leadership positions prior to his current role as General Manager of Global Business Partners. Over the course of his career at IBM, one of the ways that John Teltsch has helped clients revolutionize their business models is through the use of software as a service. 

A growing trend in the technology sector, software as a service, or SaaS, allows businesses and individuals to sign up for software packages that are accessible on multiple devices via the Internet. Rather than purchasing software, users pay a monthly fee in exchange for software access. 

One of the advantages of SaaS, or software on demand, is that the software vendor continually updates the software automatically, allowing users to remain up-to-date on the latest versions instead of purchasing an entirely new version for download. Further, SaaS is ideal for users who need a software program for only a limited period of time, as they can pay per month for the access they need instead of spending money on a program they may never use again. 

SaaS also offers cloud storage for all files and allows users to access their files from multiple devices wherever they have an internet connection. Finally, software vendors can often tailor certain applications according to the needs and branding of their clients. With the convenience and savings available through SaaS, this technology has grown considerably in recent years as an affordable tool to meet the unique needs of each user. IBM is leading the industry in innovation and change across cloud software as a service space which John Teltsch leverages these offerings and capabilities through IBM's ecosystem of partners.

Monday, May 21, 2018

Sigma Chi's Horizons Program


A longtime leader at IBM, John Teltsch serves as General Manager of Global Business Partners. In this role he collaborates across a board set of IBM Ecosystem of Partners to find opportunities for growth in analytics, cloud, security, artificial intelligence and modern infrastructure. Prior to beginning his 35-year career at IBM, John Teltsch gained leadership experience in college as one of the founding brothers of the Spring Hill College chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity, which operates a unique leadership program called Horizons. 

Horizons offers leadership training to qualified Sigma Chi members who have at least two years remaining in college. A unique component of the program is its outdoor setting in Snowbird, Utah, where students participate in outdoor activities. Prior to beginning the outdoor adventure in Utah, applicants to the program are required to engage in self-reflection through a series of questions, after which they complete pre-trip readings. 

Upon arrival in Utah, students participate in outdoor adventure experiences designed for whole-brain learning, which entails the use of both mind and body. After the outdoor component of Horizons, participants engage in a mentoring experience with Sigma Chi members as well as in follow-up leadership sessions online. 

To learn more about Sigma Chi and its Horizons program, visit SigmaChi.org/horizons.