Josh Karch

Manager, IT at Act-On Software
Act-On Software

My name’s Josh and I’m an IT leader who is passionate about providing people with support through empathetic customer-focused interactions. I have a dynamic background in IT management, System Administration, and Agile Project Management. I love to coach, mentor, and help others grow their careers!

Connect with Josh on LinkedIn.

Josh on mentorship

I’m very passionate about helping others in general but especially giving students an opportunity to learn about the industry. There are important aspects to leadership that are not addressed and my goal is to lead with compassion & empathy. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are also another passion of mine as a leader. I come from a background of teachers & educators; I want this to be my opportunity to teach and mentor our next generation of leaders!

Specialty topics

My specialty is IT leadership which includes System Administration and Project Management. Though my background is technical, what I’m most passionate about is the emphasis on social intelligence and empathy as an IT professional. These are skills that are often under appreciated and personally, are most important to me as an IT leader. I would love to help mentees learn how to lead with empathy, compassion, and how to pair social intelligence with technical knowledge.

Favorite books and learning resources

My favorite book is Creativity Inc. by Edwin Catmull. This book really changed my perspective on being a leader in tech and also how to utilize creativity in an often analytical world.

Fun facts

I was born & raised in Oregon City, Oregon and eventually moved to Portland, Oregon. I recently moved to Woodinville, Washington a couple of years ago. I spend my time with my amazing wife, daughter, and Labradoodle, Benny. I love mountain biking, music, cooking, running, skiing, and traveling. Fun fact- I was a professional musician in Portland for many years but now enjoy writing music in my free time.