Mike Wish is a legend. I’ve had the great pleasure of working with him for 10 of his 50 years working at AT&T, and he’s a role model to all of us.

Mike spends his days mining massive amounts of data to improve the customer experience, surveying nearly half a million customers every year.

Thirty five years ago, Mike decided to go back to school for computer science. While he had no background in coding or computers, he saw a future dotted with 1s and 0s. Working as a part-time student in his 40s, Mike earned his master’s degree from Columbia University.

Since then, he has had a significant impact on several crucial areas of the business – from the picture phone in the 1960s to predicting the future of smart phones.

Fueled by a passion for the work and his colleagues, Mike Wish celebrated 50 years with AT&T in June.

While most of us work for several years and begin to think of retirement, that thought doesn’t cross Mike’s mind. Instead, he thinks of how he’s going to change the world.

Take a look at the video to learn more about Mike and his half a century journey with AT&T.

Mazin Gilbert - Vice President of Advanced Technology at AT&T Labs

Mazin Gilbert
Mazin Gilbert Vice President of Advanced Technology & Systems at AT&T Labs