Dear Britta,
As many of the active participants copied here already know, it was with a heavy heart that we accepted your resignation effective December 31, 2009 as you agreed to take on an exciting full-time employment opportunity at RSA, the Security Division of EMC. I want to publicly thank you for giving us considerable notice and working so tirelessly over the past several weeks to ensure Kantara Initiative's Identity Assurance Program was live and all other major projects you were leading had been cleanly transitioned.
I will preface the rest of this memo by saying this is not "goodbye", simply "see you soon" -- March 1st at our RSA pre-conference workshop in fact! Although your duties for EMC today don't require industry initiative participation, I'm confident you'll be back "shaping the future of digital identity" in no time.
But enough of that, now for the fun part!
It was my privilege to contemplate a fitting expression of our collective gratitude for your selfless service to this industry for nearly a decade. When the vacation home in Hawaii was taken off the table by the economic downturn and other tax status considerations, I reverted to the idea of collecting these words of appreciation from some of the folks you have worked closely with and impacted the most over your distinguished tenure. The following testimonials were collected over just the past several days, which goes to show that even the people you haven't worked with in many years are still vividly aware of your talent and contributions to the success of our industry.
Without further ado, and in no particular order...
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With heartfelt emotions...
I have had the pleasure of working with Britta on multiple marketing projects within Liberty and during the Kantara launch over the past couple of years. Britta is the ultimate professional, not only does she deliver sterling results ahead of schedule, but she also ensures that the organization knows and understands what it wants to accomplish with any given program. In addition, she has an uncanny knack for knowing exactly how to market and position any given project or situation. Her insights have been invaluable to me and the organization and I have learnt much about the art of marketing during the time I have spent collaborating on projects with her. I have never worked with anyone with more dedication and personal investment to ensure the success of each and every program. Simply put, Britta always made it happen. But the thing I will remember the most is the fun and joy she brought to the working environment and her infectious smile. I can honestly say that it was a privilege working with her and I will miss her deeply.
-- Ken Salzberg
Technology Manager, Intel Labs
Vice President, Liberty Alliance
Past Marketing Committee Chair, Liberty Alliance
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The past seven-plus years have gone by in a flash largely due to the joy of working with such a dedicated and conscientious person as Britta. Each new task/event/program/session ... (name any activity) in which Britta has played a part has been produced like clockwork and had great success, resulting in the boundless pride of Liberty Alliance and Kantara Initiative as well as our preeminent success in the market.
I very much have appreciated and admired her professionalism, limitless enthusiasm, and passion for doing the best job possible. On top of this, she has accomplished it all on the strength of her persistence and reputation alone, having to "herd-the-cats" of a volunteer organization where the members' respect for a person is almost the only authority that one has. Our members have a deep and abiding respect for Britta as do her colleagues among the staff and the officers with whom she has so closely worked over the years.
We will miss her deeply, but know that she will be successful in any future endeavor she undertakes. We look forward to the day when our paths will cross again.
With great regard,
-- Roger Sullivan
Vice President, Oracle
President, Kantara Initiative
President, Liberty Alliance
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I enjoyed every moment working with Britta. She is always has a positive mood and creates around her an atmosphere of positive success: "we can make this happen and enjoy it". She is a dedicated world class professional of which any organization can be proud of. I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with her.
-- Timo Skytta
Head of Security, Privacy and Continuity, Nokia Services
Past Vice President, Liberty Alliance
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Britta Glade is one of the most professional, energetic and positive persons I have ever worked with. She has a can-do attitude second to none, and her experience especially with regards to analyst and media relations is an invaluable asset to any organization fortunate enough to enjoy Britta's strong commitment and outstanding contributions.
-- Bjorn Wigforss
Head of Ovi Marcom, Nokia
Past Chair, Business & Marketing Expert Group, Liberty Alliance
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Britta was always professional, energetic, and absolutely dedicated to doing the best possible job. She clearly saw the challenges that existed and devised ways to overcome them. I very much enjoyed working with Britta and would welcome any opportunity to do so again.
-- Lauren Wood
Principal, Textuality Services Inc.
Past Chair, Business & Marketing Expert Group, Liberty Alliance
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Britta is an expert at making things happen. Big things like arranging conference workshops with marquee names and hundreds of attendees. Small things like ensuring each of a dozen technical groups can press forward with no impediments to their work. Somehow she does it all with unfailing aplomb, and always with enthusiasm in her voice (most of this happens by phone; it's a rare treat when I actually get to see her smiling face). Thanks, Britta, for everything, and best wishes on your next adventure!
-- Eve Maler
Distinguished Engineer, PayPal
Chair of User-Managed Access Work Group, Kantara Initiative
Past Chair of Concordia Project
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I have had both the pleasure and honor to work with Britta in the Liberty Alliance and Kantara Initiative over the past 8 years. Through that time we've all changed roles on multiple occasions and I worked with Britta in nearly every facet of the organizations' activities. She is consistently strong in every position she's been asked to step up to. She has a spirit and energy that is both inspiring and challenging at the same time. More recently (in the past 2 years) I've been working more and more with Britta as my strong partner in activities. She's always available to talk through issues, always listens, and consistently has some words of wisdom she will share. More personally, I have been very lucky to have her as a mentor and strong role model not only as a professional but also as a woman who is magnificent at balancing all the aspects that come along with our (sometimes more than) full-time jobs. I look up to her, respect her and try to emulate as much as I can from her example. I will miss her dearly in my day-to-day work, but as she says, we don't 'do' goodbyes so instead we'll do: see you soon, CONGRATS on the new job, and WARM WISHES in 2010 ;-).
-- Joni Brennan
Program Director, Kantara Initiative
Past Program Manager, Liberty Alliance
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Britta is exceptional in more ways that I can even mention. In knowing Britta for the past 5 years, each day I'm in admiration. She is tireless in everything she does, both professionally and personally. "Super-Britta" always comes to mind! Positive, meticulous, determined yet always cheerful. I feel privileged and lucky to work with such an amazing lass and know this is not a goodbye, just until soon when our paths cross again.
-- Dervla O'Reilly
Program Manager, Kantara Initiative
Past Membership & Events Manager, Liberty Alliance
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Britta Glade is to a bunch of techies what the internal combustion engine is to gas molecules - imposed organization and well-timed sparks in order to derive useful work. For the past 8? years, at a number of organizations working on web identity standards, it has been my pleasure (and good fortune) to be one of those molecules that Britta, through her insight, efficiency and professionalism, has fired up.
-- Paul Madsen
Identity Management Researcher, NTT
Chair, Web Services Framework Evolution Work Group and Concordia Discussion Group, Kantara Initiative
Past Chair, Technology Expert Group, Liberty Alliance
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In a word working with Britta was "easy". Easy in the sense that she was both professionally on top of the big picture strategies of the organization as well as the niggling details that make the organization and its events, meetings, calls, and other activities run smoothly, but also easy in the sense that she was also fun, energetic, creative, and interesting to work with on a personal level. The whole package!
-- Matthew Gardiner
Director, Product Marketing, CA
Vice President, Kantara Initiative
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The Liberty Alliance Marketing effort was not the largest of teams and it certainly punched above it's weight - making sure the Liberty Alliance remained at the centre of the debate, and led the way to change (forever) the way the industry looked at and worked with that most precious of items; someone's identity.
Britta was critical to lifting the Liberty Alliance up to those heights: and she certainly knows where the "up" button is.
When the mood was down she would lift it, when the aspirations were too small she would raise them, when the idea was off the rails (and a few were) she'd be there to lift it back on. Britta is fearless (both professionally and personally) and refuses to quit - as a result the 3 years I spent working with Britta were highly rewarding and I wish her every continued success and plenty more "up time" :-)
-- Simon Nicholson
Director, Marketing, Sun Microsystems
Past Chair, Technology Expert Group, Liberty Alliance
Past Chair, Business & Marketing Expert Group, Liberty Alliance
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I first met Britta towards the start of Liberty Alliance – the former marketing VP from RSA stepped back and in stepped Britta. While diminutive physically, I soon learned that Britta was a powerhouse in every other sense of the word. Over the next several years I had the pleasure of seeing the many sides of Britta. Brilliant marketer, wonderful colleague, loving mom and an all-around outstanding person. Truly an inspiration in so many ways, Britta is someone I think of often and is someone that I hope to work closely with again in the future.
-- Andrew Shikiar
Director, Membership & Marketing, LiMo Foundation
Past Chair, Marketing & Communications Committee, Liberty Alliance
Past Director of Membership, Liberty Alliance
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Always pleasant, always professional, always thorough and competent, always there to get the job done, always ready to help..............Britta, you have been one of the true stalwarts of the Liberty Alliance and Kantara Initiative from the very beginning.
I think one of your strongest attributes is the way that you approach every problem and every issue in a professional, competent, and most importantly a very cheerful and friendly manner. In my experience you are always part of the solution, not part of the problem. Your dedication to the work and goals of Liberty Alliance and Kantara Initiative have been a major factor in the success we have enjoyed.
It has been my privilege and good fortune to have worked with you over the past seven years. I wish you the very best in all your coming endeavors and have no doubt that you will succeed fabulously.
Thank you for your dedication, support, and friendship. It has been a joy to work with you.
-- Roger Martin
Director of Standards, AOL
Treasurer, Kantara Initiative
Past Treasurer, Liberty Alliance
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I've had the good fortune to work with Britta for several years on numerous communications projects. From product launches and campaigns supporting visiblity and message placement in global markets, to creative strategies and tactics designed to shine a spotlight on an event, positioning opportunity or person -- and without question, Britta gets it. She understands the drivers, the issues and the trends that impact the identity industry and possesses the unique people and marketing skills required to generate successes regardless of the challenges that may exist along the way.
Some who know Britta have called her the "world's best multi-tasker." I agree. Some have referred to Britta as "the best manager ever." I agree here as well. There are some who have said Britta's relationship and team building skills are "inspirational." Once again, I agree. And while just one of these traits would be admirable in any person, Britta possesses all of these traits. The result is a professional who is committed, highly knowledgeable and fun to work with. No doubt Liberty Alliance and Kantara Initiative have lost one of the best-of-the best in the identity sector. But I am one of the many who know that Britta will continue to impact the industry positively as she moves on to tackle new career opportunities.
-- Russ DeVeau
President, The devComm Group
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During my tenure as President of Liberty Alliance, I had the great gift of being able to work with Britta often. I grew to appreciate her skill with the written word, her grace with other people, and the gentle way she could draw my attention to the spot on my tie and leave me feeling just wonderful. I send my best wishes, warm friendship, and thoughts to Britta for the great future she deserves!
-- George Goodman
Lab Director, Intel
Past President, Liberty Alliance
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I apologize to anyone I didn't personally solicit for a testimonial who would have liked to participate in the development of this memo... I had to draw the line somewhere! But now is your chance. I *encourage* the rest of you to pile-on either directly to Britta or to the entire community mailing list, sharing your appreciation for her service over the years and wishing her all the best for the future.
See you soon Britta,
|| Brett McDowell, Executive Director, Kantara Initiative
