I will take you on a journey through my 30+ years in IT, starting with my first encounter with Slackware Linux in 1994. From my days as a system operator and administrator, working with UNIX variants like HP-UX and AIX, to navigating the ever-evolving world of open source, I’ll share my experiences and lessons learned along the way. As a Linux Foundation member since 2016 and now CIO and Chief Engineer at Veritas Automata, I’ve witnessed firsthand the impact of open-source solutions on both enterprise and personal innovation.

We’ll explore the milestones of Linux distributions, the evolution of open-source technologies, and how they’ve shaped modern IT practices. Whether it's tackling challenges with RedHat 5.2 in the early days or driving edge solutions today, this talk will highlight how Linux has continuously been at the core of my professional growth and the foundation of my technical achievements.