Need tech support you can trust? I’m Lenny, a former Apple trainer with 30+ years of experience on Mac, Windows & iOS. I offer remote help with setup, apps, and troubleshooting.

Find out more about Lenny

• 1) Can you tell us about your first experience using a computer?

  My first experience with computers was at a time when technology was very different from what we use today. I became fascinated not just with what a computer could do, but with figuring out how it worked and how I could use it to solve everyday problems.
  
  Over the years, that curiosity grew into extensive handson experience with computers, software, technology, and troubleshooting. I’ve watched technology evolve from something that could feel complicated and intimidating into an essential part of our everyday lives.
  
  That experience has greatly influenced the way I teach today. I understand that everyone starts somewhere, and I never expect a student to already know the answer. I enjoy breaking technology down into simple, practical steps and helping students build the confidence to use their computers and devices independently.
  
  For me, the most rewarding part isn’t simply fixing a problem it’s seeing the moment when a student says, “Now I understand how to do it myself.”

• 2) What is the technological evolution that has marked you most and what will be, in your eyes, a turning point in this field?

  The technological evolution that has marked me most is the transformation of computers from specialized tools into something that is now part of almost every aspect of our daily lives. I’ve had the opportunity to experience that evolution firsthand from the early days of personal computers and the internet to smartphones, cloud computing, video conferencing, and now artificial intelligence.
  
  What stands out to me most is how technology has become increasingly accessible. Tasks that once required specialized knowledge can now be accomplished from a phone, tablet, or laptop in just a few minutes. At the same time, having more technology available doesn’t always make things easier. Sometimes it creates even more confusion, which is why learning how to use technology confidently is so important.
  
  I believe artificial intelligence will be one of the biggest turning points we have experienced. AI is changing how we learn, work, communicate, create content, solve problems, and run businesses. I don’t see AI simply replacing the tools we already use; I see it becoming integrated into almost everything we do.
  
  That is also why I believe technology education is more important than ever. My goal as an instructor is not simply to show someone which buttons to click. I want my students to understand the technology they are using, feel comfortable asking questions, and develop the confidence to adapt as technology continues to change.

• 3) Explain your expertise, your interest in it and, more broadly, its importance in the computer world.

  My expertise is in practical computer technology, troubleshooting, and personalized technology training. Over the years, I have worked with a wide variety of computers, devices, software, and online services, but what interests me most is helping people understand how all of these tools can work together to make their lives easier.
  
  My experience covers both Windows and Apple environments, including Mac, iPhone, and iPad, as well as file management, cloud storage, email, software applications, online services, video conferencing, computer organization, troubleshooting, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
  
  What I particularly enjoy is problem solving. Every student is different. One person may want help organizing years of files and photos, another may need to become more comfortable using their Mac, while someone else may want to learn a specific program or understand how AI can help them in their work. I enjoy looking at the individual situation and creating a learning approach around that person's actual needs.
  
  I believe this is increasingly important in today's computer world because simply owning technology is not the same as understanding how to use it effectively. Technology changes constantly, and people can easily feel overwhelmed by new devices, updates, applications, security concerns, cloud services, and now AI.
  
  My goal is to bridge that gap. I don't just want to fix a student's immediate problem. Whenever possible, I explain what we are doing, why we are doing it, and how they can do it themselves in the future.
  
  For me, successful technology training happens when a student finishes a lesson not only knowing more, but also feeling more confident, capable, and independent than when we started.

• 4) Do so-called 'visionaries', such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg inspire you or do you have other role models?

  I certainly respect what visionaries such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg have contributed to the evolution of technology. Each, in very different ways, helped change how we use computers, communicate, work, and access information.
  
  However, I am probably more inspired by the idea behind what they accomplished than by any one individual. What interests me is the ability to recognize a problem, imagine a better way of doing something, and then use technology to make that idea possible.
  
  Some of my greatest role models are actually the teachers, mentors, technicians, entrepreneurs, and everyday problem solvers who are willing to share what they know with others. I believe knowledge becomes much more valuable when you can take something complicated, explain it in a way another person understands, and help them use that knowledge to improve their own life.
  
  That philosophy has influenced the way I teach. I don't believe technology should make someone feel intimidated or left behind. I want my students to feel comfortable asking questions, experimenting, making mistakes, and learning at their own pace.
  
  The technology industry will always have its famous visionaries, but I believe some of the most important innovation happens when ordinary people learn how to use these tools to accomplish something they previously thought they couldn't do. Being able to help someone reach that point is one of the things I enjoy most about teaching.

• 5) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  One of the most valuable lessons I have learned about technology actually came from teaching it.
  
  I have worked with people who began a session by telling me, “I’m just not good with computers.” Very often, however, I discovered that the problem wasn't their ability to learn. They had simply never had someone explain the technology in a way that made sense to them.
  
  I remember realizing during one of these experiences that I could solve a student's computer problem in a few minutes, but that wasn't necessarily helping them in the long term. Instead, I slowed down, explained what I was doing and why, and then had the student perform the same steps themselves.
  
  When they were able to do it without my help, their entire attitude changed. The technology hadn't suddenly become easier they had become more confident using it.
  
  That experience reinforced something that has stayed with me throughout my teaching: never make someone feel uncomfortable because they don't know something.
  
  There are no “stupid questions” in my classes. I would rather have a student ask me the same question several times and truly understand the answer than leave a lesson confused or embarrassed to ask.
  
  Technology can be taught. Confidence has to be built. I try to accomplish both with every student I work with.

• 6) What would you say to an uncomfortable person in front of a screen who says that "IT is too complicated"?

  I would tell them, “You don't need to understand everything—you only need to start with the next step.”
  
  Technology often feels complicated because people are presented with too much information at once. My job as an instructor is to slow things down, remove the unnecessary technical language, and break the task into simple, manageable steps.
  
  I also remind my students that nobody was born knowing how to use a computer, smartphone, or tablet. Everyone learned at some point, and everyone learns differently.
  
  During my lessons, I encourage students to ask questions, take notes, repeat steps, and even make mistakes. If something doesn't make sense the first time, we approach it differently until it does. There is never a reason to feel embarrassed about asking me to explain something again.
  
  I also don't want students simply watching me operate their computer. Whenever possible, I want them controlling the mouse, clicking the buttons, organizing the files, changing the settings, and completing the task themselves while I guide them.
  
  My goal isn't to turn every student into an IT professional. It's to help them become comfortable and confident enough with technology that they no longer feel intimidated by the screen in front of them.
  
  Technology can be complicated. Learning how to use it doesn't have to be.

• 7) What are your other passions, related or non-related to computers?

  Outside of computers themselves, one of my biggest passions is teaching and helping people solve problems. I genuinely enjoy the moment when someone goes from being frustrated or unsure about something to saying, “I understand it now.”
  
  I also have a strong interest in gaming. Games have been a great way for me to combine technology, strategy, problem-solving, and community. I particularly enjoy games such as World of Warcraft, where there is always something new to learn, improve, or teach to another player.
  
  Content creation is another interest of mine. I enjoy working with video, online platforms, graphics, and digital tools to turn ideas and information into something that can be shared with other people. This naturally connects with my interest in emerging technology and artificial intelligence, because I am always curious about new ways technology can help us create, communicate, and learn.
  
  I also enjoy entrepreneurship and developing new ideas. I find it fascinating to take an idea, identify a problem that needs solving, and figure out how technology can be used to turn that idea into something practical.
  
  Ultimately, whether I am teaching, gaming, creating content, exploring a new technology, or developing a new project, there is usually one common theme: I enjoy learning how things work and then sharing what I have learned with others.
  
  I believe that curiosity is one of the reasons I still enjoy technology so much. There is always something new to discover.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof in IT?

  What makes me a Superprof in IT isn't simply what I know about computers, it's my ability to help someone else understand and use that knowledge.
  
  Technology is constantly changing, so I don't believe a great IT instructor should simply memorize solutions. You need to know how to troubleshoot, research, adapt, and find solutions when something doesn't work as expected. Those are skills I have developed through years of hands on experience with computers, software, devices, and real-world technology problems.
  
  But technical knowledge is only half of what makes a good instructor.
  
  The other half is patience.
  
  Every student comes to me with a different level of experience, different goals, and a different way of learning. I don't believe in a one size fits all lesson. I listen to what the student wants to accomplish, determine where they are comfortable and where they need help, and build the lesson around them.
  
  Whenever possible, I also work with the technology the student actually owns and uses. Instead of teaching hypothetical examples, we can organize their real files, configure their actual devices, troubleshoot the problem they are experiencing, or learn the software they need for work or everyday life.
  
  Most importantly, I never want a student to feel embarrassed about what they don't know. Ask questions. Take notes. Make mistakes. Ask me to explain something again. That's what a lesson is for.
  
  My measure of success isn't how much technical knowledge I can demonstrate during a class. It's how much more confident and independent my student feels when the class is over.
  
  That's what makes me a Superprof in IT.