Articles
BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE
Q: What led you to join the Green Leaf team?
A: I was familiar with Green Leaf indirectly because I had worked briefly with Chuck. LinkedIn was key in my employment here because I saw a job listing pop up, then I reached out to Chuck when I applied.
Q: What keeps you here?
A: I like the independence I have when I’m working. I know I work with a smart group of people which I appreciate. I like the management style; I have autonomy. It’s like I’m part of a team but working for myself.
Q: What are your area(s) of specialty?
A: I focus on problem-solving and communication. Being able to translate business needs into technical solutions. I’m willing to work with any technology that is required, and I am proficient in data, whether its architecture or engineering; also efficient in application development, Power BI, and web development.
Q: Can you tell us about your journey and how your past experiences have led you to your current area(s) of specialty?
A: Ever since I got into this field, I’ve had to be flexible with what I was asked to do and how to solve it. It’s created a “do what it takes attitude.” I’ve encountered a variety of problem-solving challenges, whether they involved data or code or both.
Early in my career, I worked in retail, and managing a retail store sharpened my communication and leadership skills. My interest and enjoyment of math led me to programming, where I discovered the strong connection between logical thinking and mathematical proficiency required for the job. I never wanted to program computers; I hated computers in college.
Q: What aspects of technology are you most passionate about, and how do you see these aligning with your role at GL?
A: Data. Working with it, manipulating it, and cleaning it. I find working with data intriguing. The intersection of logical thinking and problem-solving leveraging code – It’s like a puzzle that I love trying to solve.
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 canned response is machine learning and AI. I think what is going to be desirable is tech professionals who can use machine learning and AI and usefully apply it to their business. Today, AI is a black hole for businesses. I think a lot of companies feel like they need to invest and spend money on this, but they don’t really understand what the return is. Technology professionals who are hands-on and can present their work in a way that clients understand and notice its value will be in high demand. I’m not worried about AI taking my job.
Q: What leadership qualities do you think are most important for driving innovation in the technology side of companies today?
A: Being able to clearly communicate. I find that there is a lack of direction in projects, specifically data projects. Being able to be very organized is key. It seems like a lot of data environments are chaotic. I think it takes detailed planning, reasonable goals, and strong decision making. That seems to be problematic everywhere. You need to plan, communicate, execute and it doesn’t happen often. We are in an ever-changing environment, and it amazes me how often time and resources are wasted because of poor planning or poor decisions.
There’s fine line between getting it done and getting it done in the right way.
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 toughest challenges I see is how many potential solutions there may be to solve a particular problem. A way to overcome that is to speak to experienced professionals. Leadership must be able to objectively look at what’s recommended and break it down into simple pros and cons. This is key to optimizing spending, the longevity of a solution, and maximizing the return on investment. There is not one person who knows every technology, but a great thing about Green Leaf is we have such a broad range of professionals that we usually do have an expert in something that someone might be looking for.
Q: With the rise of AI and data analytics, what ethical considerations do you believe tech leaders should prioritize?
A: Some smart people will write books about this. I think being ethical is a character trait. And as long as prominent tech leaders are good characters, the world will be ok. Of course, that’s subject to opinion.
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’m old school and I like a good book; I like seeing updates on paper. I try to stay current with articles, but of course, it’s hard to know unless you get your hands on. So, I like to mess around and try different things when I have time, test things during a project or try to implement something newer.
The only way to stay current is to read and do it. I also like to think about what will stick around and prioritize that.
Q: How do you tailor your advisory approach to help clients not just meet but exceed their technology goals?
A: We’re consulting but we have to be part of the team and lead where possible. Sometimes we must take on tasks that we normally wouldn’t do but do them with a good attitude. My approach is to exceed expectations, don’t just do the minimum, do what’s required and then some more. And then communicate what was done.
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: I think like most things it comes back to communication. I make myself available and if I have a question I reach out. That all comes down to effort, if we make the effort of being a part of the team, it will progress naturally to being a part of their team.
Q: What skills do you think will be most valuable for the technology workforce of the future, and how can professionals prepare now?
A: Communication is going to be the most important skill. The tech space will realize that while computers can do so much, there still will need to be a bridge between tech and business. I think there is going to be demand for people who can get into the code then instantly step away and be able to have a non-technical conversation with a businessperson or user. They may not understand how it works, but desire to understand the value.
There’s always going to be a home for people who work with data. AI is only going to do so much and there’s always an aspect of error. We’re a long way off before a computer can spit something out perfectly.
It’s like self-driving cars. Human interaction is still required.
PERSONAL: INTERESTS AND HOBBIES
Q: What’s the one gadget or tech you can’t live without?
A: I’m a big fan of my smart oven. I love to cook, and it will give me warnings if I leave it on. Preheating the oven from the couch is a game changer.
Q: Can you share a personal success story or a particularly memorable experience from your career? What made it special for you?
A: I was new at a job, and they had paid a lot of money to have this product built, a survey type tool. They were getting close to releasing it and it was broken, and it was a hot mess. The team was not sure how to fix it. I was able to fix it in less than a day leveraging database code. It was a highlight because multiple people had given up and said it wasn’t happening. And I implemented a fix quickly and it worked.
I remember being in the meeting and offering help to look at the problem in a way no one had looked at it before. It really catapulted my career. I remember thinking wow, is this a problem in a lot of places?
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: Fishing. I love fishing; I love being on the water offshore in New Jersey whenever I get the chance.