Alex St. John attended the University of Alaska for a few years, but accepted a position in Boston with Hell Graphics and never graduated. He soon become the resident PostScript expert and helped make significant strides with their products. Next, he accepted a position with Harlequin Limited before trying his hand at freelancing. During his freelance consulting days he wrote several articles for prominent computer trade publications. Ziff-Davis named him one of the Most Influential People in Multimedia. Successful, but bored, he accepted an interview with Microsoft, where he was instrumental in the development of Direct X and Chromeffects. During his time at Microsoft, he became known for his wild product launches. They were wild in tone — and also wildly effective. Soon after leaving Microsoft, he and a former colleague formed WildTangent, whose mission is to "build a richer, more exciting Internet experience for everyone - blending 3D graphics, sound, animation and interactivity." From the Series:Information Technology Leaders