Articles
BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE
Q: What led you to join the Green Leaf team?
A: Initially I was working alongside Kevin and Steve elsewhere, that’s how we met. I was working in FinTech when they launched Green Leaf and Kevin ended up reaching out about a new opening, and the rest is history. I’ve always wanted to work with these guys.
Q: What keeps you here?
A: It’s all about the people. The companionship within the team and our leadership is fantastic. We’re not just colleagues; we’re friends, and that makes a significant difference. Plus, our flat organizational structure ensures everyone’s voice is heard and the work is good. The opportunity we have in other verticals and industries keeps me here as well.
Q: What are your area(s) of specialty?
A: From a technical perspective, I’m very strong in data and analytics. I have been coding since the start of my career, so app development is one of my strong suits. I have experience in data, mathematical modeling and presenting to C-level people. It’s where I like to work the most.
Along with my technical experience, I can get in front of people and can lead teams very effectively. Having the right quantitative skillset has been invaluable working with many clients over the years.
Q: Can you tell us about your journey and how your past experiences have led you to your current area(s) of specialty?
A: My background with finance and computer science degrees kick started my career. I began as a statistician at Dow Jones, focusing on the quantitative side from the very beginning.
Q: What aspects of technology are you most passionate about, and how do you see these aligning with your role at Green Leaf?
A: I’ve always had an interest in both spoken and coding languages. No matter what tech landscape we’re exploring, I find myself diving deep into quickly understanding it.
ROLE AT GREEN LEAF
Q: What’s one of the most important, interesting, or exciting projects you’ve worked on at Green Leaf, and what made it so special for you?
A: Sometimes the most mundane tasks yield the greatest impact. We helped a client consolidate their data. It wasn’t flashy, but it completely improved their workflow, freeing them from tedious, repetitive tasks and opening the opportunity for them to make better business decisions.
Q: What project(s) are you involved in now?
A: Currently, I have a project with a reinsurance company to complete the implementation for a credit risk database. The project consists of building legacy applications, data sets and spread sheets. Streamlining these areas and introducing modern technology allows them to be independent and not rely on IT
I also am working with another reinsurer that just completed an acquisition of a long-time client. We have been tackling the migration process of infrastructure in AWS from the acquired company to the parent company.
Q: Can you share a specific goal or project you’re aiming to kickstart in the near future? What makes this especially important to you?
A: We’re delving into a project with Snowflake, exploring its potential for creating new solutions. I’m particularly excited about leveraging generative AI to extract insights from data sources. It’s technology like this that has the potential to revolutionize how we approach analytics. It can cut out a lot of IT work, but being able to work with it will always keep you employed as we move in this direction.
Q: How have you seen your role evolve and how do you see it continuing to evolve? What are the key contributions you aim to make?
A: I have evolved tremendously from being the one working on something, to showing others what we do. I am now at a point where I want to transition away from the daily and focus mainly on the strategic and architectural things, making the decisions and offloading most of the implementation.
Q: Can you tell us about a personal philosophy or approach that guides your work in tech and in serving clients?
I’m a voracious learner. Tech is constantly evolving and staying ahead requires this kind of drive for continuous learning.
I learn every day, starting the morning off with reading articles. I choose something I want to do, then I write about it, so I understand it. This expands my knowledge significantly; it keeps you sharp. If I don’t learn something in a day, I really go crazy.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & LOOKING AHEAD
Q: In your opinion, what are the major trends that will shape the technology consulting industry in the next five years?
A: AI will undoubtedly be a game-changer, but I also see a growing emphasis on data practices and the convergence of data and application development.
While it may not be the most glamorous aspect, governance and process optimization will become increasingly critical; that’s where I see the focus being.
Q: What leadership qualities do you think are most important for driving innovation in the technology side of companies today?
A: Listening tops the list for me. Everybody has an idea of how things work, but listening to the problem and not just applying something will produce optimal outcomes. The biggest issue is when engineers become leaders because they were great engineers—but not necessarily great leaders.
Q: What’s a significant challenge in the tech space many are facing (or will soon be facing), and what, in your opinion, is a potential solution or approach to overcoming it?
A: Ethical considerations regarding AI pose several challenges: how do you control it, privacy issues, and more. It is difficult to address this and will raise several concerns.
I listened to a podcast with a psychologist revealing the setbacks TikTok imposes on the attention span of children since Covid. This platform becoming a part of society’s daily routine has hindered the willingness and desire to learn.
Q: With the rise of AI and data analytics, what ethical considerations do you believe tech leaders should prioritize?
A: There are 3 key areas to prioritize; security, privacy, and governance. They are all interconnected. Currently security and governance are lacking due to the lack of awareness. As things evolve it can be challenging to keep up with the amount of external data available. Even in large companies, there is a disconnect between Chief Security Officers and those in data. With these positions being relatively new, discussion is still forming around the best approach.
Q: How do you tailor your advisory approach to help clients not just meet but exceed their technology goals?
A: I like to do things beyond expectations. Whether it’s automating tasks, introducing innovative solutions, or empowering clients with new knowledge, I learn something and then share it with my client. Keeping communication open in this manner gives them the opportunity to learn as well, they think it’s great.
Q: The role of collaboration in tech has never been more prominent. How do you foster a culture of collaboration with your client(s)?
A: People lean on us for advice, so naturally this promotes an environment of collaboration. Throughout my career I never had a mentor; now that I am a consultant, I take these opportunities to mentor others.
I always include the junior members at client meetings. There was a time when I was helping someone, I used to seal the answer in an envelope and tell them they could only open it once they solved the issue themself. This helps build essential skills for success.
Q: What skills do you think will be most valuable for the technology workforce of the future, and how can professionals prepare now?
A: Writing code enhances your ability to understand the broader context but being able to break down large complex problems is massively important. Avoid spending time on miscellaneous things and focus on analytical work instead, systems thinking, and developing strong interpersonal skills.
Of course, coding skills will always be valuable so don’t shy away from learning how to code. Adopting a method that allows you to develop in all these areas will make for an excellent foundation.
PERSONAL: INTERESTS AND HOBBIES
Q: If you could have dinner with any figure from the world of technology, who would it be and why?
A: Steve Jobs. He drove everybody to something that was beyond what was conceivable to us at the time. I would love to have picked his brain about his approach on innovation and creativity.
Q: What’s the one gadget or tech you can’t live without?
A: My computer. I do so much at the computer. It’s also where I learn and can explore new ideas. It’s indispensable to both my professional and personal life.
Q: Can you share a personal success story or a particularly memorable experience from your career? What made it special for you?
A: Working full-time while finishing a master’s program and passing actuary exams all within two years taught me so much. Focus was one thing I acquired that I didn’t have before. This experience taught me how to allocate my time wisely during my studies and overall, in my career.
Q: Outside of work, what’s a hobby or activity you’re passionate about? How did you become involved in it and why is it important to you?
A: Since I was a child, being outdoors was a big part of my life and it still is. Backpacking, biking and running are important to me. I do different things with different people, and I do new things. Not being at a computer all day takes priority outside of work.
Q: Green Leaf is a place where there’s a good balance of serious business and good-natured humor. Can you give a fun example of when you’ve either doled out or been on the receiving end of some of that humor?
A: [Green Leaf colleagues] Craig [Collier], Kevin [Bucher] and I were just in Austin for a conference and the banter was passed back and forth on a continuum. Almost every event runs this way. I naturally joke about everything.