Articles
BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE
Q: What led you to join the Green Leaf team?
A: I started my career around 20 years ago as a BI analyst, working primarily in the data space with SQL Server and data warehousing. Over the years, I’ve held roles at four different companies, and I’ve had the privilege of working with Craig, Kevin, Jeff, and Kiran at various points in my career. About 10 years ago, I worked for Kevin at another consulting company as a data architect. Around 2-3 years ago, Kevin reached out about joining Green Leaf. The timing finally aligned, and it made sense for me to come on board.
I was especially excited knowing I’d be working with some of the best people I’ve collaborated with before. As a member of the LGBTQ community, I’ve always been mindful of where I work. With Green Leaf, I felt confident that I would be accepted and welcomed.
Q: What keeps you here?
A: The people. I’ve been fortunate to work with Kiran consistently at our insurance client, and I’ve built strong relationships with several of the subcontractors over the last few years. Everyone on the team is incredibly skilled, experienced, and a pleasure to work with.
Q: What are your area(s) of specialty?
A: My specialty lies in the Microsoft stack for data warehousing. In my previous role, I focused primarily on on-premise solutions. At our insurance client, I’ve had the opportunity to work with Azure Synapse and build a Lakehouse – a data warehouse in the Azure cloud environment – from the ground up. It’s been a great learning experience, allowing me to explore new technologies like the Python programming language for data manipulation. Overall, I’ve always focused on staying up to date with Microsoft’s advancements and projects in the data warehousing space.
Q: What aspects of technology are you most passionate about, and how do you see these aligning with your role at GL?
A: I’m passionate about learning and working with new technologies. In previous roles, I often found myself stuck in the same environment and infrastructure for years. At Green Leaf, I have had the opportunity to build, explore, and adopt new tools and technologies. It’s exciting to stay at the forefront of innovation and figure out what the “next big thing” might be.
ROLE AT GREEN LEAF
Q: What’s one of the most important, interesting, or exciting projects you’ve worked on at GL, and what made it so special for you?
A: I’ve been with our insurance client for my tenure at Green Leaf. It’s been entirely cloud-based, using a Lakehouse data lake and a data warehouse modeling architecture called Data Vault, which I hadn’t had the chance to work with before. This project gave me the opportunity to learn new applications, technologies, and architectures, which has been both challenging and rewarding.
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: Our insurance client is rapidly expanding through mergers and acquisitions, which means we need to scale how quickly we bring data into the Lakehouse environment. It’s a large, ongoing challenge that requires us to adapt to new tools and technologies which staying ahead of Microsoft’s monthly product updates. Our goal is to remain on the cutting edge and continuously improve our processes to meet the growing demands.
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: When I first joined, I was in a similar role to what I’m doing now. Over time, I’ve taken on more of a senior architect role, handling architectural discussions, code reviews, and approvals. Kiran and I have been on the project for a long time, so we’ve naturally taken on leadership responsibilities, guiding developers and contractors in various aspects of work.
Q: Can you tell us about a personal philosophy or approach that guides your work in tech and in serving clients?
A: I believe in going beyond the are minimum. I always strive to understand the broader implications of a project, which helps me do my job better and equips me to guide others effectively. I’m passionate about teaching and mentoring – whether it’s new team members or colleagues looking to learn more. I want to ensure people are well-equipped to succeed.
When serving clients, I take a similar approach. As consultants, we’re not just here to complete a task and disappear. We aim to leave clients with a clear understanding of what we did, how we did it, and how they can continue using it effectively without us.
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: The quantity of data and the need to make it actionable will remain a key focus. AI will also continue to have a major impact. While AI tools can generate code and assist with tasks, developers will still play a critical role – especially since AI relies on clear, accurate input to produce meaningful results.
I see AI as a tool for collaboration, brainstorming, and improving design patterns. The challenge for the industry will be figuring out where AI fits into the data space and how we can use it effectively without losing the human touch.
Q: How do you stay updated with the rapid changes in technology, and how do you foresee the evolution of the tech consultant’s role?
A: I learn best through real-world use cases, but I also stay informed by attending conferences, reading insights from industry thought leaders, and networking with peers. As consultants, we need to keep learning and evolving to stay ahead and bring value to our clients.
Q: What leadership qualities do you think are most important for driving innovation in the technology side of companies today?
A: I believe in democratizing information. While roles exist for a reason, having more people understand how systems work, even at a high level, leads to better collaboration and innovation. Teaching and empowering others is critical to driving progress. In general, democratizing information, not keeping siloed. But still being aware that there are different roles for a reason.
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: One of the biggest challenges is designing models and architectures that are scalable, repeatable, and flexible enough to adapt to different businesses and use cases. The solution lies in being adaptable and avoiding a one-size-fits-all mindset.
Q: With the rise of AI and data analytics, what ethical considerations do you believe tech leaders should prioritize?
A: In the data space, two key consideration stand out:
- Determining what data you exposed to third-party AI systems.
- Being vigilant about identifying and addressing bad ideas or flawed code generated by AI. As AI tools become more sophisticated, it will become harder to spot errors, to teach leaders must prioritize oversight and quality control.
Q: Discuss the balance between innovation and risk in technology. How should companies approach risk-taking for technological advancement?
A: Balancing innovation and risk is critical. While technological advancements offer significant benefits, they also bring challenges, especially with cloud-based or SaaS solutions. For example, vendors can roll out updates or roll back changes without giving users or developers a chance to test them in a controlled environment. A new tool or technology might seem promising, but within a year, the vendor could stop supporting it. Companies need to assess how much effort they invest in such tools.
One way to mitigate risk is prioritize open standards. For instance, Azure Synapse uses spark cluster technology ,which is open and flexible. While Microsoft provides the compute and storage power, the platforms; openness means you’re not locked into a single vendor. If you need to pivot to a different tool in the future, you have the freedom to do so.
Q: How do you tailor your advisory approach to help clients not just meet but exceed their technology goals?
A: Our approach goes beyond simply building solutions and leaving. We focus on setting clients up for long-term success, ensuring they aren’t reliant on us for maintenance by choose to work with us for future innovations. This allows clients to achieve sustainable growth while fostering a trusted partnership.
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: We foster collaboration by creating an environment where ideas are shared and refined together. Internally, we encourage a give-and-take-approach – where team members feel comfortable presenting ideas and receiving constructive feedback. This collaborative mindset naturally extends to our work with clients, ensuring we build solutions that benefits from diverse perspectives and expertise.
Q: What skills do you think will be most valuable for the technology workforce of the future, and how can professionals prepare now?
A: The most valuable skill is the ability, and eagerness to learn. Professionals must be adaptable, ready to embrace new tools, technologies, and challenges as they arise. Developing a mindset of continuous learning ensures you can easily pivot when tools or platforms change. For hiring, it’s not just about experience with a specific tool but about trainability. If someone has demonstrated the ability to learn similar tools or technologies, they’re better equipped to success in a constantly evolving tech landscape.
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: Whoever was the original inventor of the “Undo button” because they single handedly probably increased productivity in the IT industry exponentially.
Q: What’s the one gadget or tech you can’t live without?
A: My cellphone. I’ve tried to not be quite as attached to my phone as previously. I try not to have it in front of my face at all times.
Q: Can you share a personal success story or a particularly memorable experience from your career? What made it special for you?
A: Several jobs ago, I worked closely with one of the production DBAs. They had some development experience, but had never worked with data warehousing before. They showed an interest in the BI and warehousing work that I was working on, so I took the time to walk them through the basic concepts and what I was working on. A few years later, long after I had left that position, the former coworker contacted me to tell me that they had gotten a new job, and part of why they were hired was that they were able to talk about the concepts and techniques that I had shown them. It was a great feeling to know that I was able to very directly learn new skills and advance their 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: I’ve always tried to be an advocate for young LGBTQ folks and helping to make sure they have the support they need both from their families and in professional environments. Organizations like the Trevor Project are a great example of helping young people have an easier time than I did growing up. Another cause that is near and dear to me is Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic lung disease that my wife has. I’ve been very active in that community since we’ve been together. We are heavily involved in walks and events for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The folks at Green Leaf have been generous enough in the past to donate both their money and time to the organization, which we really appreciate.
As far as other hobbies, we have a bunch of animals, 2 cats and 3 rabbits. They are a big part of our lives.