Douglas R. Wood

I've been privy to some amazing people, events and innovations over the course of my career. I've often wanted to share the conversations I've been blessed to have with others where we uncover some things about IT and the people who work there we don't often see. The 'What is I.T.? Podcast' is my journey to do just that. Come check out and join me as I not only share amazing stories but learn how to be a podcaster!

I started Illuminaiit with a simple belief: technology should be a force for good, something that empowers people, not just drives profits. As AI and automation reshape the business world, I saw an opportunity to use these tools differently. Not to replace people, but to elevate them. To help leaders make better decisions, to create clarity in complex organizations, and to bring real, human centered impact to IT strategy.

I founded Beauty Plus Network to prove that economic empowerment can be practical, scalable, and self-sustaining. Beauty+ operates as a social business—training young women in professional beauty skills, launching revenue-generating salons, and supporting graduates as they build independent livelihoods. What started as an idea is now a working ecosystem. Building something that creates real income, real confidence, and real futures has been one of the most meaningful projects of my life.

Geekfest started in 1996, when my friend Edge and I fell hard into the first wave of online gaming. Games like Duke Nukem 3D and Command & Conquer: Red Alert pushed us to build our own networks just so we could play more. Thirty years later, Geekfest lives on—with a homegrown stats engine that began as a Python learning project and evolved into a full-blown nerd masterpiece admired by clans far beyond our own servers.

My first trade happened during the dot-com bubble, when I learned firsthand how emotion can beat logic in the markets. That experience sparked a lifelong fascination with how research, discipline, and patience can quietly compound wealth. Over time, I codified my trading principles and built Woodstock Picks—an evolving engine shaped by data, iteration, and restraint. Across multiple versions, it has become a powerful tool and an unexpected wealth generator for my family.

I was killing time in Grand Central Station between meetings, soaking in the chaos and energy of the city. Phone out, quick photo to the family, nothing remarkable. Then a stranger with a camera stopped me and asked a few questions. I almost brushed him off. Good thing I didn't. That stranger was Brandon Stanton, and that unexpected pause turned an ordinary Tuesday into a moment shared with millions through Humans of New York.

On October 23, 2013, we opened the first Beauty+ Salon in Cambodia—a milestone that led to an unforgettable night in New York City. At the Life Is Love Gala at Gotham Hall, hosted by Katie Couric and Seth Meyers, our work was recognized on a global stage. Petra Nemcova presented us with an award for Voices for Change, turning that evening into one of the most meaningful moments of my life.

Geekcade was born during the pandemic as equal parts escape and obsession. What started as a single arcade cabinet became a full-blown competitive ecosystem. We stripped machines to bare frames, rebuilt them as multi-game cabinets, and even created Raspberry Pi-based mini cabs. Every machine talked to a central server, tracking global high scores. The highlight? Monthly surprise arcade showdowns where bragging rights and top seed were always on the line.

Strategic U is my lifelong framework for applying business strategy to personal life. After decades helping organizations define vision, set priorities, and execute change, I realized the same discipline works powerfully at an individual level. Strategic U helps people clarify what they want, translate it into meaningful goals, and design practical strategies to get there. It's about living intentionally, making better decisions, and treating your life with the same care you'd give a mission-critical strategy.

Writing has always been a quiet passion of mine, waiting for the right season of life. Over the next few years, I hope to give it some time so I can further develop my skills. These are some of the stories I've been working on.