For Adam Mazouz, Senior Product Manager at Pure Storage, a single decision during his bachelor’s thesis would shape the trajectory of his entire career. That choice? Including VMware ESXi in his lab’s software stack. That technical decision kicked off what would become a lifelong passion for IT infrastructure and virtualization that still drives his work today.
“If I had to pinpoint a defining moment in my career journey, it would be my bachelor’s thesis,” Adam reflects. His hands-on experience with VMware technologies set him on a path that would wind through multiple roles, an advanced degree, and eventually land him in product management.
From VAR to Innovation Leader
Adam got his start at a Value-Added Reseller (VAR) as a system engineer specializing in storage. After proving himself in the role, he moved up to solution architect, where he spent four years tackling increasingly complex challenges.
Then came a turning point: he took a year off to pursue his MSc at Newcastle University. As luck would have it, just as he wrapped up his degree, Pure Storage was building something new—a cloud product specialist team at their Prague R&D office.These days, you’ll find Adam at Pure Storage—a data platform leader providing enterprise-grade, all-flash block, file, and object storage arrays. He brings his expertise to Pure1, their cloud-based observability and monitoring platform, where he focuses on VMware analytics and assessment.
“Many people think product management is all about building features or managing backlogs, but what they might not realize is that it’s equally about storytelling and decision-making.”
Finding Joy in Human Impact
Sure, there’s satisfaction in completing projects and checking off tasks. But as Adam tells it, what really gets him excited is seeing how his work makes a difference in people’s lives. “It’s about making someone’s day a little easier,” he explains, whether that means simplifying a process, solving a tough challenge, or bringing clarity to complex discussions.
“What really fires me up is collaboration – seeing the teams I work with overcome hurdles, think creatively, and achieve what seemed impossible.”
As it turns out, being a product manager means constantly juggling technical feasibility, business objectives, and user needs—all while working within tight timelines. But here’s what really energizes him: watching teams come together, think outside the box, and pull off what seemed impossible just days before.
A Champion of Community
Ask anyone who knows Adam, and they’ll tell you about his dedication to giving back to the tech community. Take VMware Explore 2023, where he somehow managed to deliver five sessions in three days—a feat that earned him a well-deserved spotlight in a VMware blog highlighting vExpert achievements.
Becoming part of the vExpert community has been the cherry on top, providing an incredible platform to share knowledge, connect with like-minded professionals, and give back to the community.
Meanwhile, you might catch him at AWS and Veeam user groups, where he’s just as active. For Adam, VMware Explore isn’t just another tech conference—it’s where real connections happen. Sometimes it’s a casual chat over coffee, other times it’s a chance encounter on the expo floor, or maybe it’s during those late-night hackathon sessions where the best ideas seem to flow.
“Even though I haven’t won a hackathon yet,” he says with a laugh, “I consider myself a winner for the incredible peers and brilliant minds I’ve had the privilege to collaborate with during those problem-solving sessions.”
Looking to the Future
The industry never stands still, and Adam’s noticed something interesting about what companies want from their analytics. “Businesses are no longer satisfied with just knowing what happened—they want clear, data-driven recommendations on what to do next,” he points out. This shift keeps product managers like him on their toes, pushing to create features that help users move from insights to action.
To keep his finger on the pulse, Adam dives into content from all over: Storage Newsletter, The New Stack, the Virtually Speaking Podcast, The Pure Report Podcast, and Blocks and Files. Each one gives him a different take on what’s happening in storage, cloud infrastructure, and IT trends.
Beyond the Tech
When he’s not at work, Adam and his wife share a pretty unique weekend routine: analyzing Formula 1 pit stop strategies while enjoying homemade Korean fried chicken wings. He’s also a bit of a history buff—the kind who can disappear into historical lectures for hours. And come weekend evenings, there’s a good chance you’ll find him online, deep in strategy games with friends, showing that his love for problem-solving doesn’t stop at the office door.
Want to connect with Adam and learn more about his work in the VMware community? You can find him on LinkedIn, where he’s always up for a good conversation about technology, innovation, or maybe even the perfect Korean fried chicken recipe.
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