Ep. 171, Lessons in leadership from PowerShell pioneers Jeffrey Snover and Don Jones
Aired April 28, 2025 | 70 min
In this very special episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with two legends of the PowerShell world: Jeffrey Snover, the inventor of PowerShell, and Don Jones, bestselling author, teacher, and longtime PowerShell community builder. Recorded live at the PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit, this conversation is packed with personal insights, impactful moments, and the kind of storytelling that only Snover and Jones can deliver.
Along the way, we hear hilarious stories from the early days of PowerShell development, honest reflections on growth and failure, and powerful reminders that vulnerability, repetition, and kindness are key to success in any career. Whether you're new to PowerShell or a long-time community member, this episode is a true masterclass in leadership, learning, and legacy.
Meet our guest
Jeffrey Snover
Jeffrey Snover is the inventor of PowerShell, Microsoft Technical Fellow, and a legendary figure in the IT and DevOps communities. With a background in distributed systems, Jeffrey led the development of PowerShell to revolutionize system management and automation on Windows. Known for his visionary leadership and storytelling, Jeffrey has played a pivotal role in shaping modern IT practices. His work continues to inspire technologists around the world to build, share, and lead with intention and clarity.
Don Jones
Don has been writing since 2000, primarily focusing on technology books for almost two decades, including bestsellers like Learn Windows PowerShell in a Month of Lunches, Managing Windows with VBScript and WMI, and The Windows Server 2003 Delta Guide. Around 2018, Don shifted his career away from technology and began writing fiction.
Meet our host
Andrew Pla
Andrew Pla, a seasoned IT professional with over 10 years of experience, has spent the last 5 years mastering PowerShell. An ardent member of the PowerShell community and a Microsoft MVP, he loves sharing his knowledge and leveraging automation to solve complex problems. You can always find him connecting with others on the PDQ Discord and troubleshooting, with the firm belief that a problem shared is a problem halved.
