Sharon A. Mertz is a director in the software markets research team at Gartner, Inc., and teaches courses in international business, information technology, and the multinational corporate environment at Southern New Hampshire University. She is an international business professional with more than 25 years of experience in strategic consulting and management directed toward the introduction and impact of emerging technologies in the marketplace. Prior to joining Gartner, Mertz was an associate partner at IBM, working with the global research organizations to evaluate emerging business opportunities. She held an international assignment based in Paris as practice leader for IBM's strategic consulting organization in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Mertz also held management roles at KPMG, Hewlett Packard, Bull Worldwide Information Systems, and Digital Equipment. She is an accomplished keynote speaker and has addressed audiences at both commercial and academic conferences and at events internationally. Mertz is a member of the Academy of International Business and the honor societies of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and completed graduate programs in computer science and business management at Worcester State College, the George Washington University, and the Harvard Extension School. Areas of research interest include technology adoption models and software market growth in emerging economies.