…And then there’s tech
Leadership, Strategy, Problem Solving, Project Management
| I enjoy a challenge.
I have over 20 years of experience building & implementing technology, integrating systems with organizations, building collaborative teams, and doing things that “can’t” be done. Currently, I seek to grow in a new direction in a position where my technology, project and management experience is an asset. I am a team builder, a process creator and a creative problem solver. I love tech. I love the experience I’ve accumulated. And now, I want to take that amazing library of knowledge, instincts, practices and stories and apply them in a new and exciting way. I seek an opportunity to contribute, collaborate and create with enthusiastic teams looking to make the world a better place. Please feel free to keep reading below to get a sense of how I approach work and … everything, really. If you have a project or problem that needs an outside perspective, some creative strategizing or someone to cut through the chaos and bring order to things, please feel free to browse my resume or contact me! |
Communication
I sometimes joke that my entire career is built on English to English translation, but it’s not really a joke. My degree is in English with a focus on Medieval literature. I studied Old English (Beowulf), Middle English (Chaucer) and Early Modern English (Shakespeare) along with a bunch of the more recently-dead authors. Older versions of English can be deceptive – words’ meanings have shifted, usage and grammar have changed, context is different. The same holds true true between “Business English” and “Developer English” and “IT English” – each group may use the same vocabulary but they often mean to say very different things. Catching these different definitions and forging understanding between the two is one of my superpowers.
Listening is the most important part of communication. Transparency and honesty come in a close second. I have been honored to be called the “best boss ever” by several individuals. This is why. If you listen, you hear who understands and who needs to ask more questions or have more context. Especially in technology, often the business reasons for a request or change are mystifying to those carrying it out – but a little understanding of why, who, and objectives goes a long way both in making sure you get the right solution in place but also in valuing the perspective and experience of your team. Ask the obvious, stupid questions. Answer them too. Don’t allow what might be a disconnect to go without clarification.
Management is not rocket science but it does require work. A lot of work. I am both responsible for and responsible to my team. Communication is a big part of it, especially when dealing with distributed or remote teams. So is personal and professional integrity. Making the best choices you can. Being willing to be wrong and fix it. Asking all the questions. Listening and understanding the answers. Remembering that your teams are made up of unique individuals.
I’ve been building and managing teams for over 20 years and I’ve spent the last 10+ working with remote teams. As a project manager, I’ve always had to provide direction and prioritization for people who don’t report directly to me. Building a positive team culture regardless of the type of team is critical. I’ve led teams who did their best work while short-staffed and without burning out.
It turns out, I love the people the most. No matter what we’re building, fixing, or improving… the people, the laughter, the brilliance, the inspiration that comes from a great group working together… that’s my favorite part.
Technology
I’ve done some stuff. I’ve led projects to customize and implement major systems like Salesforce and NetSuite, then written the user docs and training materials. I’ve designed and built apps from the ground up with my teams. We’ve built custom high-availability web sites and forged AWS architecture to meet our needs and our budget. I’ve run computer labs and a support team for some truly unique neighborhood schools in Philadelphia. I’ve come into incredibly complicated projects that were already considered failures and pulled them out of the fire to successful completion. Oh, and I’m a founder of an AI startup.
Project Management
Successful, on-time, on-budget technology implementations require a lot of prep up front. We all like to think we can skip it, but we regret it when we do. A project manager may feel like an extra wheel or a luxury for a project, but, in fact, a project manager is integral to a project is very much like a smartphone is to the modern world. A good PM can keep you on track, remind you of your tasks, help search up new information, set the schedule and inform you of progress. An excellent PM will see and raise issues before they’re roadblocks and keep things moving while an issue is being handled. A PM can be a conduit, a knowledge base, a team lead and the calm voice of reason through the chaos.