Donald Leka

Donald Leka is an Albanian American^[1] entrepreneur in the information technology industry and pioneer in the cloud computing space. Leka is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of TransMedia Corporation,^[2] the creator of the award winning cloud computing platform Glide OS^[3] and its successor, Jumptuit.^[4] Leka is also co-author of Cloud Computing: The Glide OS Story, Solving The Cross Platform Puzzle.^[5][6]

Leka launched Glide OS in 2005, well before cloud computing became a popularized term.^[7] Jeffrey S. Young, one of the founding editors of Macworld magazine and co-author of the bestseller iCon Steve Jobs: The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business, described Glide as "one of the first 'Internet' operating systems, a browser based working and computing environment" that "demonstrates the first new competition for Apple and Microsoft since Digital Research’s GEM."^[8]

Leka has cited the importance of cross-device, cross-platform compatibility and system integration in cloud computing design.^[9] "Walter S. Mossberg, The Wall Street Journal’s principal technology columnist said of Glide OS at the All Things Digital Conference (AllThingsD) that, Glide is like 'world peace' between devices and platforms.”^[10] Steve Wildstrom, writer and editor of BusinessWeek's personal technology column, "Technology & You," described Glide as providing "the closest thing I've seen to a set of universal applications."^[11] However, Glide’s cross-platform service has also put the Company and Leka in the crosshairs with proprietary technology companies, most notably Apple. ^[12][13][14]

An early advocate of protecting user privacy rights in cloud computing services, Leka created the Glide Society in March 2006, a rules-based networking environment in the Glide OS with parental controls, digital rights management, and user preferences.^[15] In August 2007, Leka announced the establishment of the Glide User's Bill of Rights in a "pledge" to protect personal data.^[16]

In December 2007, Leka launched Glide Free, a feature-rich free email service designed to protect email privacy as an alternative to Google Gmail that scans personal emails "to generate contextually relevant ads"^[17] In April 2009, Leka announced the launch of Kids' Glide to provide children with a safe online environment and parents with the tools to monitor child email accounts and other online activity.^[18]

Glide has been featured in news publications including The New York Times,^[19] USAToday,^[20] and The Wall Street Journal,^[21] and books including Cloud Computing Bible, by Barrie Sosinsky, ^[22] and Cloud Computing: Web-Based Applications That Change the Way You Work and Collaborate Online, by Michael Miller.^[23]

Leka has been a featured speaker at the All Things Digital Conference,^[24] Harvard Business School Cyberposium Technology Conference,^[25] New York Tech Meetup (NYTM),^[26] and TEDx.^[27]

Leka is also the founder of the award winning Glide Health Corporation^[28][29] launched at TechCrunch50^[30] on September 15, 2009 and Glide Education Corporation.^[31]

Biography

Leka is an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award Finalist.^[32]

Leka holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) as well as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in International Relations, both from The American University in Washington, DC.^[33]

Leka is also a composer, arranger, and producer of classical and popular music.^[34]

References