Nothing happens to anyone that they can’t endure — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations Book 5 — Nothing happens to anyone that they can’t endure — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations Book 5 A tree fell on me today. Literally. Crushed a fence, sent me to the ER (no concussion, thank You). And I could not be more grateful for the experience. A family friend (a 50-year-old mother of…

I was recently challenged by a greatly esteemed and admired colleague: if you didn't have daughters, would you still be such a vocal ally… — I was recently challenged by a greatly esteemed and admired colleague: if you didn't have daughters, would you still be such a vocal ally (for Ladies in Tech, specifically). And the answer is yes. I absolutely need to be an Ally. According to the ancient Jewish mysticism of Kabbalah, the…

Naming my engineering team in honor of my grandfather gave meaning, mythology, and a sense of something bigger to our work. — The team of engineers I manage builds and maintains the services and APIs that provide all video and article content for a branded sport’s websites, apps, and connected devices. We abstract the complicated business logic for getting content, videos, and live games to the fan, including authentication, video on demand…

I am writing this at 3:00 in the morning. Why am I up at this time? Because I forgot to do something. Maybe you will relate? — I am writing this at 3:00 in the morning. Why am I up at this time? Because I forgot to do something. Maybe you will relate? I was stressing out about legitimate issues: I’m not feeling challenged in my job and I fear I’m getting too impatient and ambitious, which…

Part 1 in a Series on Making Space, Inclusion, and Allyship — We live in a world of “AI,” ranging from automatic soap dispensers and hand driers in our public restrooms to self-driving cars on the street. However, there is a problem waiting to be solved in this space: diversity. One search for “facial recognition and race” will turn up copious examples…

Part 2 in a Series on Making Space, Inclusion, and Allyship — In this ongoing series, I present the uncomfortable conversation of why racial and gender groups are under-represented within the high technology sector and how to help make space. Diversity vs Inclusion vs Belonging Individuals will read (and hopefully share) this article. But this article’s subject, like the statistical data it presents, ignores individuality, focusing instead…

Adapting the ways we think, communicate, and interact with others is a key element in ensuring team unity and overall success. — Its damage control time. That high-profile app or game you released is crashing and users are tweeting bad reviews. Your biggest client unexpectedly issued a press release that she’s going with your biggest competitor. Your boss assigns you to give a presentation to the board of directors — tomorrow.

Your team is like a balanced investment strategy. In this article, I look at the A-Team to make an informative comparison between… — Ten years ago, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum-security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. …

I wish I were an expert in something. Anything. In fact, I feel unqualified to write this article about giving advice on one’s career… — I wish I were an expert in something. Anything. In fact, I feel unqualified to write this article about giving advice on one’s career journey. How can I guide anyone if I am nowhere near completing my own idealized career journey — achieving the role of VP of Engineering? …