I manage a small team of software developers along with several contractors and vendors at JW Pepper, the world’s largest retailer of sheet music. When discussing my leadership style, I usually don’t talk about “Visionary” or “Transformative” leadership. The archetypes I reference are a coach and a cheerleader (don’t make me get on top of the human pyramid, though!). I am almost never a drill sergeant, unless absolutely required.

I have a lot of thoughts about the intersections between business and technology, with a Substack dedicated to building bridges between the needs of the customer and the business with the capabilities that IT and software development teams.

The Past

I majored in Linguistics and Political Science and graduated in 2008, in the throes of the Great Recession. It wasn’t a fabulous time to be graduating from college, but it was during this time that I learned a lot about resilience, which has been a recurring theme since then.

I was under a lot of pressure to move out from my parent’s basement, get a “real job,” and make my way in life. After a few months, I picked up a book about PHP coding in December 2008, and by late January 2009, I had my first freelance clients. I got a literal rush from seeing something work that I had spent time and effort creating. This, too, would be a recurring theme.

Fast forward to Fall 2022: I was a highly skilled full stack developer at my company, having served on both the digital products and business systems sides. I enrolled at Villanova School of Business for their part time MBA program, which I am just a few semesters away from finishing.

The Present

Now, I lead. I have some involvement in the code, but I’m also leading others to finding that same rush that I used to feel. When I see a mentee’s or another engineer’s eyes light up when that epiphany that leads to the solution hits, I feel that same thrill!

I also build bridges. I am someone that can take business or user feedback and translate into requirements that an engineer or developer can use. As an MBA candidate, I find the language of business just as accessible to me as the languages of Java or Python. When a member of the accounting or finance team asks for a change in the ERP system, I can not only ask probing questions to get to the bottom of what is driving the request, but I find that I can empathize with the business user and really sense their pain points.

The Future

I have a now-retired friend, former co-worker, and personal role model who taught me a valuable lesson about fulfilling careers. Sometimes, they are non-linear. For instance, he served as as a materials scientist for various high tech companies, including building for space exploration projects. He was then a software architect, a CTO then a software developer, a Physics professor, with several other titles as time went on. He had a long, fascinating career that took him places he didn’t expect to go.

As I move through life, I see my future through a clearer, sharper lens. I know I’d like to work as a C-level executive for a business that has 300 or more people. I am a born storyteller, so I’d love to work for a business that enables people, brands, and businesses tell their stories through technology.

I have learned so much over the past sixteen years in software development and engineering. I can’t wait to see what I learn next!