John Medica played a pivotal role in shaping Dell’s business and strategy, transforming Dell Technologies into a brand that resonated with tech-savvy consumers. His leadership was characterized by a relentless pursuit of innovation and aesthetics, bringing a level of sophistication to everything he touched. John consistently sought ways to innovate aggressively, ensuring that we remained ahead of the curve.

However, if you ask anyone who had the pleasure of meeting him, they will tell you that his enduring impact transcends his professional achievements. John was a kind and good person, deeply missed every day. He possessed an uncanny ability to make those around him feel special and comfortable. Many describe him as the “epitome of greatness,” not only in his business and engineering leadership but in his interactions with others.

To honor his legacy and perpetuate his spirit, Dell Technologies established the John Medica Engineering Award. This prestigious recognition is bestowed upon outstanding engineers within the company, celebrating innovation, leadership, and technical excellence. The award reflects our commitment to engineering excellence and acknowledges individuals who drive technological progress.

One notable recipient of this award is Marc Hammons, a senior distinguished engineer at Dell Technologies. Marc's contributions span IoT software ecosystems, AI solutions, and client device service programs. His work has made a significant impact on our technological advancements and continues to drive progress within our company.

Here is Marc's story and a glimpse into his humble acceptance of the John Medica Engineering Award. Please join Dell Technologies in congratulating Marc on this well-deserved recognition and in remembering the remarkable legacy of John Medica.

How does Dell support innovation and technical excellence in engineering?

Engineers play a critical role in shaping the future of technology, and Dell takes pride in championing its engineers, setting them up for success. There are many ways this happens, but I’d like to highlight a couple that are central to Dell’s culture.

First, there is strong encouragement for mentorship, both as a mentor and a mentee. As a mentor, I view this as “filling my chair,” a responsibility I take seriously. After three decades in the industry, I still have people reaching out to say hello, share memories, update me on events, or simply tell me what they’ve been up to. These connections are largely built on the relationships I’ve developed throughout my career, which I attribute greatly to the power of mentorship. Being a meaningful and effective mentor is one of the most impactful ways you can influence lives. On the other side, as a mentee, there’s always something new to learn from others. Even with years of engineering experience, no one can master every discipline or foresee every situation. That’s why I value connecting with people from across the company. These interactions often reveal new perspectives or skills, making me more valuable to others. Mentorship truly pays dividends throughout both your professional and personal life. To get the most out of it, you should strive to experience it from both sides—as a mentor and as a mentee.

The second aspect I want to highlight is Dell’s strong technical community. Dell fosters this not only through a commitment to engineering excellence but also through a smaller, company-wide community of experts. Some of my best professional connections have come from working with individuals in this group. The opportunities for information sharing and cross-company collaboration that emerge from this team are remarkable and wouldn’t exist otherwise.

This group of experts is an inspiring and highly sought-after part of Dell’s technical leadership. Their expertise and collaboration create enormous value for the company. If you’re looking to grow, I highly recommend finding a mentor and connecting with members of Dell’s technical leadership community. Together, you’ll uncover new ways to contribute and grow.

How does Dell empower engineers to push boundaries in their field? 

Dell offers numerous ways to stay connected to industry trends and technological advancements.

The company empowers engineers by fostering a culture where bottom-up innovation is not only encouraged but expected. We’re given true autonomy to explore, prototype, and challenge the status quo. Leadership recognizes that groundbreaking ideas often start as simple notions or concepts, and they actively support this dynamic approach.

It’s incredibly empowering to see ideas take shape quickly through iteration. Access to customers, partners, and open ecosystems allows us to match concepts with real-world solutions and test them effectively. There’s a shared understanding that the rapid learning cycles generated by this process are far more valuable than striving for perfection. “Fail fast” is the motto embraced by these innovative teams.

Another key aspect of Dell’s culture is giving back to the community and universities. These engagements help us stay in tune with advancements in both technology and vision. Working alongside some of the brightest minds as they approach the industry not only fosters collaboration but also enables Dell to stay at the forefront of cutting-edge research. Academic circles, often focused on experimental or theoretical pursuits, provide unique insights that keep us ahead of the curve.

What advice would you give to engineers aspiring to make a significant impact?

To excel in your career, start by becoming an expert in your craft early on. This means not just studying but actively building and creating. Hands-on, real-world experience is crucial—not only to serve your own growth but also to bring value to your employer. Remember, your expertise and opinions are what you’re ultimately compensated for, so invest in developing both.

Stay curious. Don’t hesitate to offer your time and skills to projects outside your immediate organization or comfort zone. You don’t need to make a massive commitment, but contributing to other programs can be incredibly rewarding. You’ll often pick up new knowledge while also expanding your network of collaborators. In today’s workplace, being multidisciplinary is an invaluable asset.

Finally, aim to fill your chair. Be the best at what you do but also strive to hire and nurture talent that surpasses your own. For your team or organization to thrive, you’ll need to drive that success from within. It all begins with you.

If you could have dinner with John Medica, what would you ask him?

If I could ask John anything, it would be about what’s next and how he envisions the world evolving in the era of AI. With so much change happening, the possibilities seem endless. Conversations like these often happen when creative thinkers come together to share ideas. Sometimes those informal, spontaneous discussions become the spark for the next big breakthrough. You never know how an idea will take shape.

I’d also want to understand how he balanced vision and execution. How did he retain the boldness to imagine what a product could become while managing the hundreds of practical decisions required to turn that vision into something tangible, scalable, and impactful? That constant tension between idealism and pragmatism is something I wrestle with regularly, especially when tempted by the allure of new and emerging technologies. No matter how exciting the concept, it still has to be useful in the end.

Finally, I’d ask what hard lessons he learned about leadership, failure, perseverance, and the grind. I’d want to hear how those challenges contrast with the joy of building enduring, admired creations. From what I know of John, he wasn’t just a product visionary; he was also a builder of people and culture. And honestly, those elements are just as crucial to success as the promise of any breakthrough technology.

I’d be especially curious about how he managed to stay lighthearted and grounded through it all. How did he create the momentum needed to transform a company while remaining human and approachable? That’s the kind of legacy I aspire to leave behind. John has always been a brilliant example of how to achieve that balance, and it’s a conversation I would have loved to have with him.

Read more about Marc's story here.