Thompson quickly refocused Symantec on its data security business. He sold or shut down several units and replaced more than half of the company’s original 2,300 employees, including most top managers. Within three years, he was being recognized as one of the country’s best managers, and BlackEngineer.com listed him as one of the 50 most Important African Americans in technology. During this challenging time, Thompson’s confidence and resolve served him well. “He did not back off [for] one moment on everything he said about Veritas and the need and the value of that acquisition, despite the pressure that he was under,” observed Bruce Chizen, CEO of Adobe in san Jose, who met Thompson through a Silicon Valley CEO peer group. “He did not cave. The leadership he demonstrated under difficult circumstances was admirable.”In fact, Chizen was so impressed with Thompson’s leadership skills that he later sought Thompson’s advice and support.”I continue to ask him to share with me his experience , and that has helped me form my own opinions on how to move ahead with Macromedia,”Chizen says.”I learned a great deal from the experiences he had.”