Moul, who will turn 48 New Year's Eve, said the area's strengths include "great world-class universities," a "vibrant start-up community," and certain cost advantages.
For example, Moul estimated that compensation of tech talent in Philadelphia is 10 percent to 30 percent lower than in Silicon Valley. In Moul's experience, turnover is also lower, meaning area firms often avoid an "astronomical cost" in churn.
As for his priorities for Philly Startup Leaders, Moul said he's very much in listening mode right now, trying to learn what many of the 700 active members are seeking from a group whose signature event is the annual Founder Factory that shows off up-and-comers and been-there-done-that'ers.
Still, he identified three broad areas where the group should have a role in helping entrepreneurs expand their businesses: identifying sources of capital; finding available skilled personnel; and providing mentors and advisers.
I asked Moul if he could identify a mentor who'd helped him. He named Michael Emmi, who was CEO of Systems & Computer Technology and put Moul in charge of SCT's Education Systems business in 2001.
Knowing that he would be leaving Dell nearly a year after its acquisition of Boomi, Moul said he told everyone he knew that he wanted to get more involved in Philadelphia's start-up scene. Even so, he said, he was surprised when those involved in Philly Startup Leaders sought him out to serve as the group's unpaid president.
But he shouldn't have been. After all, Moul provided a reason during our brief interview: "I believe it's incumbent that with success you help others do the same."
That's what mentoring sounds like.
Contact Mike Armstrong
at 215-854-2980 or marmstrong@phillynews.com, or @PhillyInc on Twitter. Read his blog, "PhillyInc," at www.phillyinc.biz.
