Gary B. Smith

For more than four decades, I've spent my career leading innovative technology companies that build our global communications infrastructure, and driving innovation that has enabled the evolution of the internet and the connectivity of the planet. That experience, including having lived on three continents and working extensively on six, taught me a great deal about the importance of leading a global diverse team, enabling an entrepreneurial spirit, and driving long-term value creation. What I've truly learned, however, is that even high-technology businesses are really all about people. Our actions, how we choose to view our opportunities, and how we interact with each other - not just our skills and functional knowledge - play a disproportionate role in determining both our individual and collective success. So, I look for team players who are curious, humble but ambitious, and those who empower others around them through their enthusiasm and positivity…people who treat others as they would wish to be treated. Along with my passion for evolving Ciena and driving the connectivity of the planet, I have had a long-term commitment to functional fitness and my interests include English gardens and fine art photography. In fact, I’ve recently been spending more time on photography, rediscovering the passion I have for this creative outlet and reminding myself how spending time on it energizes me in all aspects of my life. https://www.gbsmith.com | https://www.instagram.com/g.b.smith.photography/ "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference." - Winston Churchill