He had a great creative spirit between business ventures, writing and photography.. a man of many talents.
"I first met Om in the mid-2000s when I started in public relations. He was patient, kind – not what you’d expect from a journalist hounded by every PR agency trying to get column inches. I met him again when we were fundraising for my first startup in 2006 – he listened with intent, he provided genuine feedback, he supported us emotionally. I would see him occasionally at the odd event or two in the years that followed. He always had a smile, always gregarious, always maintained a presence without agenda – or effort, for that matter. He embodied the hidden human amid the sterility and coldness that would slowly engulf Silicon Valley in the years that followed. I’m blessed to have benefited from his kindness across the few brief interactions, and I wish his family and friends the comfort in knowing he left an outsized impact on many of us."
The guy was a mensch. He made this space welcoming because he cared about the individual.
He knew the business of tech, he was successful at the business of tech, so when he criticized tech, his punches were solid, precisely targeted, and unignorable. The first day I met him, he told me: "I know where all the bodies in Silicon Valley are buried," as he once told me. And he really did.
Tech journalism today is sorely missing fiery thoughtful voices like his.
My experience of Om was only through his written word, but a new article or post by him was a thing of joy. Not to agree with, but simply to hear a good, honest voice.
As soon as I read this, I thought, "Wait a sec, hasn't it been a little while?" My sincere condolences to his family and colleagues.