Mike Morris: ‘Confidence Comes First’

Originally published on EE Times.

Mike Morris is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Torc, a talent marketplace for software developers. A gig-economy software-development advocate, Mike is a tech pioneer who set the standard for what a freelance marketplace should look like—long before the world was ready.

Since 2001, Mike held leadership roles at Topcoder and played a key part in its acquisition by Wipro during his last four years as CEO. Before that, he was GM/SVP of Appirio’s crowd-for-cloud venture Cloudspokes and brokered Topcoder’s acquisition in 2013. Early in his career, he worked at CMGi, Tallan, and Invensys.

A proud Boston College double Eagle, guest lecturer (Harvard, MIT, NYU, UC Berkeley), and engineer at heart, Mike also serves on the board of the Academy of Applied Sciences (UNH), championing STEAM education and the ideas of young inventors everywhere.

What personal projects will you be working on this weekend, Mike?

I love building things and combining software, hardware, and construction. My latest ongoing project is a mobile-controlled and monitored koi pond—each new feature surfaces unexpected challenges.

• Building a year-round koi pond in New Hampshire requires planning for winter freezes.

• Automating pumps, lights, water levels, and filters must be both waterproof and intelligent.

• Because we don’t live on site full-time, it needs remote monitoring and alerting for any issues.

What was your first job in the industry?

I was a C++ programmer for an MRP system in Newtown, MA, while earning my computer science degree at Boston College. It was impactful to apply what I learned in school directly to real-world projects.

Who was (or is) your mentor?

I’ve had more mentors than bosses. My most recent and active mentor is Chris Barbin, Founder of Appirio and now CEO/Founder of Tercera. We’ve spoken every six weeks for the last decade—an incredibly rewarding relationship.

How do you start (or end) your day?

I spend three months each year on a New Hampshire lake. Some mornings I wake up at 7 a.m. to waterski the slalom course; later in the week, I’ll wakesurf with my four children. If I’m not on the water, my wife and I paddleboard to clear our heads—then I’m back at my desk by 9 a.m.

What is the biggest threat to society posed by technology today?

Digital addiction. Like chemical dependency, it can fracture families and communities. People become overly reliant on devices and apps that harm their emotional, physical, and mental well-being.

What has made the biggest difference in your career?

Working with people I genuinely like—teams, customers, investors. It feels less like work when you enjoy the company you keep. Make strategic choices that allow you to do more of that.

What mantra do you live by?

Confidence comes first—always, in everything.

What advice would you give to people wanting to start a company in the current climate?

Economic instability creates two things: opportunity or excuses. Many use recessions (2001, 2008, the pandemic) as an excuse. The companies that thrive are those who find opportunities amid uncertainty—and that mindset makes all the difference.