From early computers to AI, Binghamton grad helps students embrace new frontiers
John MacDonald teaches School of Management students how to grow their strategic business communication skills
John MacDonald ’92, MS ’98, knows how to embrace new technological advancements.
During 23 years at IBM Corp. and most recently with Cisco Systems, John MacDonald has enjoyed a front-row seat to the evolution of computer science, from building his own computer to piecing together the most basic wired network connections and exploring the increasingly expanding applications of today’s artificial intelligence systems.
As an adjunct lecturer for more than 12 years at the ϲ School of Management, where he has taught courses in project management, databases and strategic business communications, he weaves his experiences into lessons that prepare students for the challenges they’ll face in the professional arena. The secret, he said, is making sure they understand why building strong communication and problem-solving skills is just as crucial as mastering the capabilities of complex computer systems.
“I teach them how to use the tools that are available, knowing the right time to depend on something like AI, and when you’re better served by focusing more on the storytelling that goes into whatever message you’re trying to convey,” MacDonald said.
MacDonald’s fascination with leveraging the latest innovations began at 14, when he worked part-time at a friend’s auto parts store to pay for his first Commodore VIC-20 computer. As a proud “Star Wars and Star Trek geek” with an affinity for math, it didn’t take long for him to realize computers would likely play a role in his professional journey.
When the Oswego County, N.Y., native came to ϲ as an undergraduate student, he pursued a degree in mathematical sciences. It felt like the natural starting point for one who, as a high school student, peer-taught his classmates while their math teacher was on a brief leave.
Still, MacDonald wasn’t interested in teaching as a career. After graduation, he worked as an assistant manager for Waldenbooks in Johnson City, N.Y., transferring to other stores in Pennsylvania and Connecticut before deciding to return to Binghamton for a graduate degree in computer science. That further sparked his interest in how computers work.
MacDonald interned as a graduate student with a local company that wrote software for temporary employment agencies. After several similar stints, MacDonald found an ideal fit with IBM in 1999.
“It was basically writing the code so that, as an employee, let’s say, you need to install something on your computer. You click on it, and it runs and installs itself. We were actually writing the code that did that install,” MacDonald said. “I ended up taking that job at IBM and started on my first wedding anniversary, but obviously, it was a great opportunity.”
In 2022, MacDonald joined Cisco as a DesignOps manager, working with a team focused on strengthening connections and driving better processes across Cisco IT. They’re the operations team that enables Cisco’s design team to focus on user experience, design, content and research.
“If you, as an employee, need to submit time off, how much of a pain is that process, and how many clicks does it take? What we do is called reducing friction; we’re trying to make it as easy as possible,” he said. “But to make things easier for you, it takes more work for the people behind the scenes to figure out the programming and what it looks like on the screen, the workflow and the process.”
For years, MacDonald never felt bitten by the teaching bug, but friends who doubled as adjunct faculty at Binghamton eventually convinced him it would be a fun opportunity. He also saw it as a chance to give back to the university that had helped him discover his passion.
He’s particularly proud of his students’ impactful projects for local nonprofits, which include helping them with IT problems and providing other assistance with websites, fundraisers and various technical solutions.
When MacDonald first arrived at Binghamton, the capabilities of new tools like computers were just being uncovered. Now that he’s on the other side of the classroom, he’s the first to tell his students that if you’re not finding the right way of integrating the latest tools like AI into your work, you’re not part of the future.
“New technologies like AI aren’t meant to do everything for you, but just like any other tool in your toolbox, you have to know when to use it and how it works,” he said. “In this case, it reminds me of the old expression that when you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail. AI is a very big hammer.”