Finding stories in everyday adventures
The start of a new year is often a natural moment to pause and think deliberately about what comes next. For me, it is less about declaring resolutions and more about being deliberate in how I think about the year ahead. I do believe in setting goals, but only when they are grounded in a clear understanding of the technology decisions that actually shape outcomes over time. In modern organizations, those decisions span software architecture, …
Starting a new leadership role is one of the most high-stakes transitions in any career. I’ve gone through it multiple times across very different organizations—fast-moving startups, operationally intense mid-market firms, and post-acquisition integrations. Each time, I was reminded that there’s no universal “first 90 days” checklist that works everywhere. You’re not just taking over responsibilities. You’re entering a live system with its own history, culture, relationships, and battle scars. The way you move early on …
Read moreThe New Leader’s Playbook: Situational Do’s and Don’ts for a Successful Start
Over the years, I’ve come to believe that the most effective technologists are the ones who stay deeply connected to the business. Not just during planning sessions or leadership reviews, but in the day-to-day rhythm of their work. This wasn’t always intuitive for me. Early in my career, I focused heavily on technical architecture, coding, and project delivery. But I eventually realized that without business context, even excellent technical execution can miss the mark. Here’s …
Read moreA Daily Checklist for Staying Close to the Business (as a Technologist)
You’re grinding. You’re pushing through. You’re delivering. But is anyone noticing? In corporate world, execution and independence are table stakes. But real impact, and real career growth, come from something more: alignment, visibility, and sponsorship. Pushing Through Is Necessary, But Not Sufficient As I wrote in Pushing Through, the ability to keep going through ambiguity and resistance is critical. It builds resilience. It earns trust. But grit alone doesn’t guarantee your work will land. You might deliver a technically …
Read moreDoing Great Work Isn’t Enough: Why Alignment, Visibility, and Sponsorship Matter
In today’s business culture, collaboration is treated as the gold standard. We idolize team players, prioritize consensus, and treat solo work as a red flag. But that perspective isn’t always right. Not every meaningful contribution comes from group efforts. Some of the most important breakthroughs, elegant systems, and high-leverage solutions come from individuals working alone, without distraction. These “Lone wolves” aren’t anti-collaborative, they are just built differently. And when you learn to recognize and support …