As any good engineer knows, anything worth creating needs to be a marriage between the logic of science and the creativity of art. And that just about sums up the life and career of François Cartier.
Born in Paris, France to an engineer father and an artist mother, François’ early life was a unique mix of blueprints, paintings, and literature. His father specialized in planning the construction of dams and other massive projects. His mother painted and was a bestselling author.
After graduating from Collège Stanislas with a degree in mathematics, and Université de Montréal with a degree in organic chemistry, Cartier began work as a chemist specializing in water pollution control. After observing his ability to solve problems quickly and logically, several of his friends and colleagues recommended he look into a new, up and coming industry: computer software development. He did and found his true calling.
In 1982, at the beginning of the Personal Computer Revolution, Cartier moved to the Silicon Valley region. There he developed his skill-set and abilities as each successive generation of computer hardware and software came down the line. Among the many companies he’s worked with over the years are Sprint, Kaiser Permamente, Barclay Global Investors, and Bank of America. Cartier has served as Treasurer of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Data Management Association (DAMA) since 2002.
Cartier holds a fifth degree black belt (Go Dan) in Shotokan Karate and is one of the leading teachers of the tradition in the San Francisco Bay area. He lives and works in the town of Millbrae, California with his wife of 37 years, two cats, and a small grove of fruit trees.