About
What I do
I partner with founders and leadership teams at inflection points: when the playbook stops working and the obvious moves aren't delivering.
What makes this different: I operate in the gap between technical architecture and organizational dynamics. I can go deep on system design when that's what changes the strategic call. I can read team dynamics and incentives, alignment and decision rights when that's the real blocker. Many advisors skew technical or organizational. I’ve had to do both, and know when each matters.
Working style: Straight talk. Short feedback loops. No theatrics. We make progress while we build capability.
See Ventures & Work With Me.
Values
- Outcomes over org charts. Start from what needs to happen, not what the org chart says should happen.
- Pragmatism over purity. Solutions that work with your actual team, timeline, and constraints. Not the situation you wish you had.
- De-risk, then accelerate. Take smart bets. Move fast once the path is validated. Respect people at every step.
What you won't get:
- No hype cycles. I'll help you test trends (AI, platform shifts, GTM pivots) for actual relevance to your business.
- No process theater. Only structures that raise throughput and reduce risk.
- No avoiding hard calls. Sometimes the obstacle is immovable and leadership needs to change. I'm comfortable making that recommendation.
Background & Perspective
I learned to reason from complex tech systems, from a PhD in computer science and academic track record to building infrastructure tech at companies like Cockroach Labs and Neon. I know what actually moves revenue and what's just motion.
But technical systems don't exist in a vacuum. Growing up across four countries taught me to read rooms and translate incentives between cultures. That skill—spotting what's actually being said under the surface—is central to my work.
Today, I operate at the intersection of both. I've built engineering teams, mediated executive conflicts, and made the hard calls to recalibrate leadership when necessary. Founded multiple ventures helping people connect and focus. (See also LinkedIn).
Beyond Work
I care about building systems that help people flourish: in companies, in communities, in civic institutions.
Outside of client work: snowboarding, deep friendships, civic engagement, and prototyping tools that help people connect more meaningfully (see Ventures).