10 Things You Didn’t Know about Aaron Skonnard

As the CEO and president of Pluralsight, Aaron Skonnard’s main responsibilities include taking care of business strategy, product development, future direction and strategic partnerships of the company. He co-founded the firm which is a leading provider of online education for expert software developers.

Skonnard has a degree in computer science from Brigham Young University earning him a strong technical background. As a child, he was always curious and passionate about technology. His father supported his dreams and bought for Aaron one of the pioneer Compaq PCs and the new production of Apple Macintosh at the time. It was this passion that make him a developer at heart. Some truths the world may not know about him include:

He is a Talented Author

Aaron has written several books and hundreds of white papers and articles. He has also worked for many years as a contributing editor to a couple of famous journals. Worth noting is that he has extensive experience teaching professional developers all over the world and developing course materials.

He is a Low-Key Philanthropist

Skonnard is one of the visionary leaders who is big on giving but does not go telling everyone about his charitable deeds. He sincerely believes in helping the individuals who need it the most. In fact he started his company to lift the condition of humans by filing in technology gaps. An example was when he announced that Pluralsight will support on profit organizations by amplifying their impact through equipping them with the technical skills people need to solve some of the most significant challenges in the globe. The company was also part of the tech giants that contributed $300M to K-12 computer science education in America.

Aaron Skonnard Was Inducted into UTC

Because of his contributions to the tech industry globally, the savvy businessman has been inducted into UTC (Utah Technology Council) Hall of Fame. Inductees attended a gala in their honor on 10th November 2017 at the Salt Palace Convention Center.

Aaron is the Founder of Silicon Slopes Organization

Skonnard is not the type of guy to put all his eggs in a single basket. Other than being the CEO of Pluralsight, he is also the founder of Silicon Slopes Organization. Here he is also a member of the board. At the company, Aaron makes use of his experience and expertise to empower technology companies in the United States. It is because of his unwavering contribution as well as dedication that has made Utah become recognized as a tech hub nationally.

He Started PluralSight as a Lifestyle Business

Aaron’s business that is valued at about one billion dollars started out as a lifestyle business in 2004. During its pioneer years, the firm was renting out hotel conference rooms and offering tech training to other organizations. Nowadays, it is one of the best online businesses for creative, IT workers, and developers.

He could Code at the Age of Ten

Skonnard is a self-taught coder who could code on his family’s Apple II at the tender age of ten. It was something that changed his life he confesses. He was always passionate about sharing his knowledge because he was a teacher before co-founding the successful Pluralsight firm.

Aaron Loves His Sleep

Aaron Skonnard listens to the doctor’s when they say that sleep is essential. He tries to get at least five to six hours during the weekdays because he has to spend quality time with his wife and five children after work. However, during the weekend, he plays catch-up where he spends at least seven to nine hours of sleep.

His Family Cannot Live Without Waffles

Although they try to eat healthy breakfasts every day, weekends are all about fun and waffles. Skonnard makes waffles for his family or they all go out to Saturday Waffle food trucks that are very popular in Utah. Often they take hikes around the location of the truck. They take the waffle business seriously as they have driven 40 miles to get to the truck.

Instagram and Twitter are his Favorite Social Media Apps

Skonnard probably accesses the social media platforms several times a day. He loves Twitter because he reads the news and with Instagram, Aaron feels more connected to his friends and relatives.

His Favorite City is Sydney

Aaron Skonnard loves spending time in Sydney, Australia. He says that the people there are down to earth and friendly. He also acknowledges that the city is magnificent with endless outdoor activities, excellent food, and culture. He loves swimming; therefore Aaron appreciates the presence of the ocean, harbor, reef, beaches, and wildlife-oriented scuba diving.