Peter
Zaitsev

Founder | Open-Source Advocate | Technologist | Boards Member, Advisor & Mentor

MySQL Rockstar 2022 Award Highload++ Award 2019

State of Open Con'23 Speaker

Introduction

Technology has an amazing ability to impact lives, and I've been drawn to it for as long as I can remember. Since my earliest days, my passion has been to understand how things work, build them, and make them better.

Now, as a published author, speaker, board member of several organizations, and ex-CEO of the globally recognized open-source company Percona, that same vision of making things work better underscores all I do.

Whenever I speak at an industry event, mentor board members, or advise customers, I share best practices, use cases, and industry trends that deliver smarter alternatives for everyone. That's the promise of open source.

/* Peter Zaitsev */

I can help you

How? you might ask. Simple. By introducing you to the wide world of open source and databases. Something else in addition to open source and databases? I will show you ways to grow your business using leading tech trends. These are my fields of expertise, where I have excelled for more than 20 years.

You will learn from my talks, keynotes, articles, interviews. Whether your business is long established or a startup, I will provide you with valuable information on how to improve your operations and bottom line. I have a successful track record in doing so for my businesses. I can do the same for yours.


Talks and Keynotes

Public speaking is my passion. Open source, databases, growing business with tech trends are all my areas of expertise. I tailor my talks to your needs.

Listen to a sampling
Articles, Interviews, Expert Comments

For all journalists out there, make me your go-to expert on technology (open source, databases, Linux, etc.) and entrepreneurship. I will fill you in on what’s happening now in these fields and what’s to come. Expect on-point quotes and even story ideas that will make your editors happy.

Contact me here
Investor, Mentor,
Advisor

Sometimes the hardest part of advising, mentoring and investing is finding profitable ventures and worthwhile projects. I’ve done that repeatedly. I am currently serving on the advisory boards of several tech startups and am ready to help your tech business grow, too.

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In the media

High performance MySQL: Optimization, Backups, and Replication, 3rd Edition

By Baron Schwartz, Peter Zaitsev, Vadim Tkachenko | Released first March 2012

#5 in Computer Performance Optimization category on Amazon

› Buy on Amazon › Buy from O’Reilly

Upcoming events

9-11 September

Percona Live Amsterdam

Percona Live is where the open source database world shows up. Join the people who build, run, scale, and fix data systems every day, and hear from them as they share real lessons, real challenges, and real success. Percona Live is not a marketing stage, vendor showcase, or corporate slide deck parade. It is a conference for engineers, operators, architects, and database leaders who care about reliability, performance, and, most importantly, keeping open source open. If you run open source databases in the real world, this is your community – and your event.
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26 September

MySQL BR Conf 2026

MySQL BR Conf is more than just a conference. It's a meeting point for professionals, companies, experts, students, and enthusiasts who use, study, manage, develop, and help build the MySQL ecosystem in Brazil.
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7-9 October

Open Source Summit Prague

Open Source Summit is the premier event for open source developers and contributors. It’s where maintainers, technologists, and community leaders come together to share knowledge, collaborate on solutions, and push open source projects forward. It’s the home for code, community, and the people driving the future of open source.
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11-14 October

Community Over Code Glasgow

Community Over Code Glasgow 2026 features four in-person days of sessions at the Hilton Glasgow for ASF members, committers, and open source developers from around the world, focusing on Search, Big Data, Internet of Things, Community, Geospatial, Financial Tech, and many other topics. Each evening will also feature Birds of a Feather (BoF) sessions and social events, where communities will have an opportunity for free-form discussion and planning around our various projects.
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My Recent Blogs

Here’s the Message I Sent Welcoming Percona’s New CEO Peter Farkas
10/08/2025
First, I want to give a big thank-you to Bennie Grant, who has been our Interim CEO over the past few months. Stepping into the CEO role is never easy — and doing it on an interim basis can be even tougher. Bennie, we’re grateful for the way you’ve helped steer us through this transition […]
GeeksGoPeaks Svalbard Expedition 2025
08/26/2025
    What is Svalbard anyway ? Svalbard is an archipelago off the north coast of Norway and is a very interesting place from many angles. It is the northernmost place you can easily get to – a regularly scheduled 3-hour flight from Oslo takes you to Longyearbyen, the capital of the Archipelago, and the […]
Typical Mistakes in Open Source Sales
08/20/2025
One key way Open Source Software is different from classic Commercial software is that not every user is going to be a customer. In fact, for most successful Open Source projects, the number of users and uses is orders of magnitude more than the number of customers and “paid” deployments. You may argue Commercial Open […]
Exploring the Keane Wonder Mine
08/12/2025
The Keane Wonder Mine is a gorgeous abandoned mine in Death Valley. If you’re looking for something more than natural sights and want to be away from the crowds, this is an absolutely fantastic location to visit. The mine was closed in 1912, yet because of Death Valley’s unique dry climate, it is preserved much […]

Work hard.
Play hard.
That’s my credo.

When it comes to playing, you’ll find me running more than six miles a day. That is when I’m not climbing Mount Everest or Pakistan’s K2.

Sports and adventures are the sources of my energy and physical wellness. I encourage people to find their source of energy in activities they like. That’s why I’ve founded the Percona Adventure Team for Perconians and am an ambassador of the Run with Percona Club, open to everyone.

Get in Touch

I don’t believe in living a static life, staying in a rut, doing the same things over and over. I am constantly seeking new opportunities with the challenges they bring. I look for endeavors that provide win-win cooperation.

Contact me if you would like to work with me. If you have the right project, I definitely want to work with you.

Get in Touch