Hello
So as you already understood, I'm Oren Betzaleli, a certified tour guide. I started my tour guide journey as a hobby many years ago, out of a passion to teach in general and to teach about our country, and its history in particular.
But before I became a tour guide I was, and I still am, a high-tech professional, who made his way from being a software developer programmer to being a CEO, until I decided to do something for my soul.
My Story
I started my Tech career at the age of 19, when I joined the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) as Software Developer. I spent 8 years in the IDF, and had the opportunity to develop some really interesting stuff. I left the IDF as a Captain, and with mixed feelings... but the tech boom in the late 90's was too tempting.
After leaving the IDF I joined one of the largest Israeli tech companies, Amdocs. In Amdocs I spent 2 years in London and a year in New York, out of 12 years in total. I left Amdocs as Vice President of Product Management, in charge of the company's entire product portfolio.
After leaving Amdocs I worked in smaller Israeli tech companies: Retalix, who was acquired by NCR, where I was Executive Vice President of Products and Marketing; and Redbend, who was acquired by Harman, where I was Executive Vice President of Products and Marketing, and then CEO of the subsidiary and the General Manager of HARMAN Israel after the acquisition.
It was during that time, since about 2010, where I started taking clients, collogues, partners, analysts and of course friends and family members to trips in Jerusalem and in other places in the Holy Land. and I enjoyed it sooo much!
I also managed to find time to study towards a Bachelor degree (BA) in History in the Open University, focusing on the history of the Holy Land, which was really a derivative of my passion for tour guiding.
When I turned 50, I decided it was my time to take a break from inertia, and finally fulfill my dream. I started a Certified Tour Guide training program in the Wingate Academic Center. I left my last job as a President in Amdocs (yes, I came back to Amdocs), and started a new life.
Since then I split my time between studying, consulting to few tech startups, and starting my own tech start up with a friend (details to come...).
Well... this turned out longer than I expected, but feel free to reach out and I can give the longer version in person ;)
