Vice President, Marketing, MOX Networks
Leslie Reid heads all marketing initiatives for MOX, focusing on corporate branding, creating market awareness, and ensuring a positive customer experience.
Prior to MOX, Leslie was the director of global marketing at EdgeConneX, leading the creation of the brand, complete with messaging and go-to-market strategy. Leslie also served as senior marketing manager of Sidera Networks with a focus on experiential marketing efforts and corporate rebranding. Previously, Leslie served as director of marketing and launched the Intellifiber Networks brand and market positioning. Leslie has a BBA in Management from James Madison University.
How can telecommunications technologies help humanity?
Fiber and telecommunications have become lifeline utilities.
The pandemic has put a spotlight on underserved areas in our country that still can’t rely on functioning networks. Entire geographical and social communities are affected when the population is forced to work and learn from home. We have an obligation and an opportunity to build new fiber routes across geographies previously ignored.
Preparation and readiness for the next “worst-case scenario” is priority for all. As network providers, we need to learn from and plan beyond COVID-19. Whether it’s a future pandemic, targeted attack, or natural disaster, our industry will be expected to deliver on capacity requirements to support customers and users.
Faced with the challenges of working, learning, and remotely remaining connected to loved ones via networked devices, fast and reliable Internet has become a utility as essential to our lives as electricity, water, and gas. The education of our youth and success of our economy now rely on it.
How can corporations and researchers best serve the next generation?
Smart connected city planning will surge.
Cities and municipalities are evaluating how 2020 affected their ability to effectively deliver on the connectivity requirements of their communities. With advancements in smart city technology, new approaches exist to support emergency response, community safety, school and business productivity, and individual users. Connectivity options are available to create new paths for infinite capacity. Smart city planning also unlocks new sources of revenue for years to come.
Telecom infrastructure received a lot of attention during the 2020 pandemic due to unprecedented stresses that we put on our networks. As we move into 2021, the federal government will most certainly need to encourage and support new and/or smaller infrastructure providers, such as MOX, to continue building fiber and offering telecommunications services required to maintain and upgrade infrastructure across the country.
Is it important for companies to continue to innovate their organization or offerings, and why?
Antiquated networks just won’t cut it anymore.
Legacy networks always face ongoing repair, upgrade, or complete replacement, but due to the surge in Internet usage as a result of COVID-19, 2020 has accelerated the pace. In addition, demand for new fiber route development is required in order to keep connecting new and existing data center hubs. New routes are vitally important not just for carriers and telecoms, but to appropriately support increased demand from all consumers of bandwidth globally.
There is room for growth for both established and new providers.
Despite industry consolidation over the past decade, there is still a wealth of opportunity for new and smaller providers to successfully build and expand networks throughout the United States and worldwide. Demand for connectivity will continue to soar in response to boundless IoT innovations. We have a responsibility to enable these technologies and advancements for all to be successful. Our networks have to keep up and preempt the needs of consumers.
MOX has the ability to support this infinite capacity and is actively building new fiber routes to support this growth in several regions. Nimble and entrepreneurial by nature, our MOX team is always seeking the next opportunity to collaborate with both customers and ecosystem partners, old and new, in pursuit of network advancement and expansion.
What would you share with those interested in becoming a PTC Member?
PTC Membership offers a variety of both personal and corporate opportunities and perks. As a member organization and as an individual, having the opportunity to gather, partner, and participate on infrastructure related projects and at events is what stands out to me. PTC represents a fraternal community of professionals and companies interested in the advancement of connectivity around the world.
What important piece of information should people know about PTC?
I think it is important to note that PTC is the type of organization where there is certainly a correlation between your participation and measurable membership benefits. It’s a very large, global organization, which provides immense reach, but you must engage with groups of interest and attend the events to realize and enjoy the great benefits associated with membership.
What advice would you share with current and future graduates interested in this field?
I would encourage students to seek a career in telecommunications because it is an essential industry that shows a lot of future growth opportunities. Technology and IoT will continually advance and the telecommunications industry will both support and deliver these applications across global networks. Whether you are in marketing, finance, service delivery, construction, or sales (to name a few), there is a need for a variety of expertise in this vast field.
What industry mogul or up-and-coming leader have you followed or are currently following, and why?
I am currently following our MOX President, Justin Melnikoff, as he is most definitely an up-and-coming leader in our industry. I actually decided to join his team at MOX a little over a year ago because I believe he has an amazing combination of strong industry knowledge, creative problem solving skills, and a passion to expand and enhance connectivity around the world. I have been fortunate to have worked with him in past entrepreneurial endeavors and I have watched him mature into the leader that he is today. Working is better described as making the world a better place when you truly enjoy the team and leadership that surrounds you each day.
About MOX Networks:
MOX Networks is a leading fiber optic network specialist. We build the capacity to deliver on the infinite possibilities for new paths, connections, and performance. MOX responds to the increasingly complex requirements of hyperscalers, wireless service providers, government, municipalities, public and private partnerships, with exclusive, custom design and deployment of unmatched low latency networks. Founded in 2013, MOX owns and operates unique lit and dark fiber routes throughout North America and Asia. To learn more about MOX, you can also read President and Chief Operating Officer Justin Melnikoff’s PTC Member Profile.
