Nick Oddson
Age: 39
Location: Waterloo
Occupation: Senior Vice President, Enterprise Technologies, OpenText Corporation
Making a difference: Helped build Canada's largest software company, contributes time, energy and money to the local arts scene and the region's tech community.
Whether you need a helping hand, a word of wisdom or a rare medieval combat weapon, look no further than Nick Oddson
Not only is the senior vice president of Canada's largest software company generous with his time and advice, but he is also one of only 14 accredited stage combat instructors in the country -- a designation he attained after co-founding Waterloo's Royal Medieval Faire in 1997.
And whether he's managing his 1,000 plus employees across the globe or teaching an actor how to swing a sword, Oddson makes everything he does look easy.
In the matter of 11 years, the former University of Waterloo computer science student helped make OpenText a billion-dollar business. In 15 years, he grew the Medieval Faire from a local family event to one of the region's most highly anticipated festivals of the year, drawing annual crowds of more than 5,000.
And while his unique ability to manage people, business and technology has taken him to the peak of his profession before the age of 40, he says the climb has been anything but typical.
"I didn't follow the conventional paths to success," acknowledges Oddson, who began his tech career making video game software. "I have an eclectic set of interests and a professional background that makes me unique."
That eclectic set of interests includes an affinity for theatre. Oddson is a member of a community improv group and, in various capacities, has assisted with more than 25 local productions. He also helps with the University of Waterloo drama program, and he and his wife occasionally work on local indie films.
To complement his involvement in the arts, Oddson is equally committed to the region's tech commuity.
As a member of Communitech's board of directors and a volunteer with the University of Waterloo's Velocity program, he mentors local entrepreneurs and tech students. His vision and innovation were instrumental in launching the University of Waterloo's Stratford campus and he regularly offers his expertise at events, such as Ignite Waterloo.
Oddson, who will be making the shift from OpenText to Desire2Learn in March 2013, says he's always willing to give back to the community, which has given him so much over the years.
"It makes the industry and the region a better place to have more successful people in it."
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