Michael Sheehan
Founder of HighTechDad, technology writer, and content strategist
I’ve spent over two decades building my career at the intersection of technology, storytelling, and innovation in the San Francisco Bay Area. I’ve done this both inside large enterprise companies and as an entrepreneur building my own brand.
As a content marketing strategist and digital marketing leader, I’ve worked in content strategy, technical storytelling, and AI-enabled marketing workflows at companies including Splunk (Cisco), AppDynamics (Cisco), Riverbed, HP, and Intel. I’ve also spent years with startups, where I learned to move fast, wear multiple hats, and turn complex technology into narratives that actually resonate.
But my real laboratory has always been HighTechDad.
At a Glance
- Specialization: AI-enabled content strategy, technical storytelling, marketing innovation
- Based in: San Francisco Bay Area
- Experience: 20+ years in technology marketing and content leadership
- Current Focus: AI workflow innovation, digital transformation, independent content creation
- Notable Companies: Splunk (Cisco), AppDynamics (Cisco), Riverbed, HP, Intel, GoGrid
- Founded: HighTechDad (2005)
Entrepreneur at heart
I founded HighTechDad in 2005, not for fame or fortune (spoiler: there wasn’t much of either), but because I saw a gap and wanted to fill it.
What started as a side project became a recognized brand in the technology and parenting space, one that’s outlasted platforms, trends, and more than a few “next big things.”
HighTechDad has always been my north star. It’s where I test ideas, experiment with new technologies, and figure out how to explain complex concepts in ways that real people can understand.
Many strategies I explored on HighTechDad eventually made their way into my professional work. It’s been my personal R&D lab for nearly two decades.
Building and maintaining HighTechDad taught me things no corporate role ever could: resilience, adaptability, and the importance of showing up consistently, even when no one is watching.
Battle-tested and adaptable
With 20+ years of experience in technology marketing, I’ve been through it all: the Dot-Com boom and bust, layoffs, reorganizations, acquisitions, and platform shifts. I’ve worked at massive enterprises and scrappy startups.
I’ve seen technologies rise and fall. I’ve navigated corporate politics and entrepreneurial uncertainty.
That experience matters. It means I know how to stay resilient, adapt to change, and keep moving forward no matter what’s happening around me.
What I do (and what I'm good at)
I specialize in making complex technology understandable and building systems that help teams work smarter.
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AI enablement and workflow innovation
I’m leaning heavily into AI, not the hype, but the practical application. I design AI-driven workflows that improve research, ideation, and content development.
I create prompt-engineering frameworks and reusable templates for marketing and technical teams. I build internal prototypes that reduce cycle times, increase accuracy, and help teams adopt AI responsibly.
I approach AI the same way I approach all technology: as an early adopter who tests, experiments, and works to explain it in accessible ways.
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Content strategy and technical storytelling
I translate complex technologies (AI, observability, cloud computing, APM solutions) into clear narratives for practitioners, executives, and cross-functional teams.
I’ve led end-to-end content strategies that align with product, sales, and executive priorities. I build scalable systems, editorial calendars, and strategic assets that drive demand generation and buyer engagement.
Whether it’s an executive blog post, a technical white paper, a product launch video, or a social media strategy, I focus on clarity, usefulness, and impact.
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WordPress and web design
Here’s a fun anecdote.
I took only one in-person coding course in my life: an introduction to HTML class when HTML was first gaining popularity. By day two, the instructor pulled me aside and offered me a refund plus full course credit because I was already way more advanced than anyone in the class, including him. I’d been self-teaching.
That’s how I’ve approached technology my entire life.
I’ve been experimenting with WordPress for over two decades. I’ve tested on load-balanced cloud servers, survived a DDoS attack, moved hosting providers multiple times, and completely redone designs and backend frameworks.
It’s been a constant evolution, another example of learning by doing, breaking things, and figuring out how to fix them.
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Content Strategy & Creation (Sr Mgr)
Splunk (Cisco)
Led high-impact content for Observability and AI solutions. Developed AI-powered prototypes to accelerate workflows. Translated technical concepts into buyer-centric narratives.
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Digital, Content, and Marketing Strategist
AppDynamics (Cisco)
Led content strategy across digital, social, video, and customer marketing. Managed video production, social media strategy, and executive communications. Served as the "fixer" during organizational transitions.
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Partner Marketing Strategy (Sr Mgr)
AppDynamics (Cisco)
Built content strategies to accelerate partner channel growth. Managed geo-specific newsletters, partner portals, and enablement assets for global partners.
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Content & Solutions Marketing (Sr Mgr)
Riverbed
Translated technical specs into consumable marketing assets for WAN optimization and SD-WAN solutions. Built demand-generation campaigns and streamlined cross-functional content workflows. Earned Marketing Rockstar Award.
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Senior eCommerce Content Marketing Mgr
HP Inc.
Developed lifestyle content strategies for HP.com's global eCommerce platform.
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Brand Journalist & Social Media Strategist
Intel
Investigated, interviewed, and wrote technology stories for Intel Free Press. Defined social strategies for corporate events and increased Intel's social reach.
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Technology Evangelist
GoGrid
Defined social and content strategy for cloud infrastructure products. Drove GoGrid's Klout score from 0 to 78. Earned multiple "cloud expert" recognitions. Built the company's thought leadership in the early cloud computing space.
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Founder, Owner Writer
HighTechDad
Built a recognized personal brand through content creation, product reviews, how-to guides, and social media presence.
Selected for technology influencer and brand ambassador programs with Sony (DigiDad Project), Microsoft (Real Life Stories), Intel (Upgrade Your Life and Advisors Program), AT&T (Lose the Laptop and Lifestyle Tips), Trend Micro (The Digital Joneses), IBM (Digital Influencers Program), and NETGEAR (Ambassador program).
Freelanced for online and print publications produced by AT&T, CDW, IBM, and others.
Over the years, I’ve earned recognition for both my professional work and my HighTechDad brand:
- Top 100 Cloud Computing Experts on Twitter (The Huffington Post)
- Top 25 Cloud Computing Experts on Twitter (Multiple publications)
- Marketing MVP (GoGrid, 2012)
- Marketing Rockstar Award (Riverbed, 2018)
- Top 21 Dad Blogs (Man of Many, 2019)
- Top 50 Dad Blogs (Babble.com, 2011 & 2012)
- Top 10 Fatherhood Blogs (Cision.com, 2010)
These aren’t just vanity metrics. They reflect years of consistent work, credibility earned over time, and a reputation for showing up and delivering.
How I approach work
I’m a self-starter who doesn’t wait for permission. If I see a problem, I figure out how to solve it. If I need a skill, I teach myself. If there’s a better way to do something, I build it.
I’m also a teacher at heart. I genuinely enjoy helping people understand complex topics, gain confidence with new tools, and realize they’re more capable than they thought.
Whether I’m working on a corporate project or writing an article for HighTechDad, my approach is the same: clarity, usefulness, and honesty.
What's next?
I’m always exploring, testing, and learning. Right now, that means diving deeper into AI workflows and finding new ways to help people and teams work smarter. It means continuing to write, create, and share what I learn on HighTechDad. And it means staying curious, adaptable, and ready for whatever comes next.
If you want to connect, feel free to reach out. I’m always open to interesting conversations.
Learn more
This is about me. What to explore the broader HighTechDad story?
- About HighTechDad – What this site is, why it exists, and how I approach technology
- Editorial Policy – How I work with brands, disclosure practices, and advertising
- Origin Story – The full story of how HighTechDad started and evolved
If you want to reach out, you can always contact me directly.
Thanks for being here.
