Although she shuns the title, Radia Perlman has been called the Mother of the Internet because her algorithm for the STP (Spanning Tree Protocol) is what made the internet possible.
“I did indeed make some fundamental contributions to the underlying infrastructure,” she says, “but no single technology really caused the Internet to succeed.” Even so, we’re glad she worked as hard as she did to develop this technology.
Keep reading to learn more about everything else Radia Perlman accomplished in her life and get some advice directly from this incredible woman.
Personal History
Since both of her parents were engineers, it was no surprise that the fields of math and science came easy for Perlman. “I always liked logic puzzles and I found math and science classes in school effortless and fascinating,” she said.
Even so, she was more interested in the arts as a child and it wasn’t until she was in high school and a teacher helped her take computer programming classes at Stevens Institute of Technology.
After that, she went on to pursue a degree in math at MIT but ended up graduating with her Ph.D. in computer science.
Accomplishments
Let’s take a look at some of the things Radia Perlman accomplished in her life. As you’ll see, they are numerous and impressive. It seems like she was always working on something and willing to put in the work needed to become a master producer.
Programmer
Most of Perlman’s accomplishments revolve around computer programming, which should be no surprise as this is what she worked on for most of her career. Although she’s most well-known for her work on the internet, there are other things she “mothered.”
Her first paid programming job involved writing software programs like debuggers. While she was there, she decided to write a new programming language that could be used by children. Although she eventually abandoned the project, it was what sparked a new field known as “tangible computing.”
Recently, Perlman created the TRILL protocol which addresses some of the issues with her STP. As of this writing, she is employed by Dell EMC as a programmer where she continues to produce new computer programs.
Author
When Perlman authored the book Interconnections, it was a turning point in her career. “[The book] changed people’s perception of me,” she said, “I didn’t have to act condescending and scary when people learned the field from my book.”
The book took the complicated subject of computer network layers and simplified it, removing a lot of the jargon that made it difficult for the average person to grasp. She also went on to co-author Network Security: Private Communication in a Public World.
Teacher
To share her knowledge in a more intimate way, Perlman also taught courses at several universities, including Harvard University, MIT, and the University of Washington. She was also a fellow at Sun Microsystems.
Speaker
Because of her history with a field that so many people are flocking to now, Perlman has been a keynote speaker for various events around the globe. That girl who was desperate to make straight-As in school probably never dreamed of being able to travel the world to talk about computer programming.
Patent-holder
Because of how much of her work is pioneering, Perlman has her name on over 100 different patents. These include things like ethernet enhancements, key encryption, and storage systems.
Award-winner
As a result of the high level of productivity she’s been able to maintain during her career, Perlman has been the recipient of numerous awards.
Currently, she has been given the following honors:
- Inductee to the National Inventors Hall of Fame
- Inductee to the Internet Hall of Fame
- Winner of SIGCOMM Award
- The first winner of the Anita Borg Institute Women of Vision Award for Innovation
- Recipient of USENIX Lifetime Achievement Award
- Chosen as the Inventor of the Year by the Silicon Valley Intellectual Property Law Association
- Awarded an honorary doctorate from the Royal Institute of Technology
- Named one of the most influential people by Data Communications Magazine on two different occasions
It’s incredible to think that even with all of these accomplishments, she is still humble enough to not feel worthy of the title “Mother of the Internet.”
Advice from Radia Perlman
If you want to become a master producer, one of the best ways is to get advice from one. Let’s look at some of the rules Radia Perlman lives by so you can follow in her footsteps no matter what industry you’re in.
Keep it Simple
Perlman said, “My designs were so deceptively simple that it was easy for people to assume I just had easy problems, whereas others, who made super-complicated designs (that were technically unsound and never worked) and were able to talk about them in ways that nobody understood, were considered geniuses.”
In other words, she took a simple approach to solving problems which is why her solutions frequently worked better than those who over-complicated things.
Think about the problem you’re trying to solve and see what the easiest solution is. This will not only increase the chances of it being successful but will also give you more time to devote to solving even more problems.
Ask for Help
“It’s OK to ask for help,” said Perlman, “When doing a final exam, all the work must be yours, but in engineering, the point is to get the job done, and people are happy to help.”
That’s why you’ll see her name among a list in her patents. Perlman wasn’t afraid to admit when she needed help and was willing to reach out to those who could help her complete a project.
Build Others Up
According to Perlman, “Everyone is insecure—especially pompous people.” For this reason, she encourages people to encourage others. Remind people of their accomplishments and they’ll be more eager to help you when you need it.
How to Boost Your Productivity Score to Become a Master Producer
Now you know more about how Radia Perlman, the Mother of the Internet, was a master producer. As you can see, she kept things simple and focused on getting along well with other people instead of trying desperately to get ahead.
If you want to boost your productivity score, one of the best ways to do that is to track it and find ways that you personally can improve. Our app is designed to do just that for you, so be sure to check it out for more information.
