How I think about this work
Long-form essays on engineering leadership, judgment, and building software that earns long-term trust. Written from experience, not from a framework.
On Building Things That Matter
The question that haunts good engineers isn't "did it ship?" — it's "did it matter?" After 18 years building products in privacy, healthcare, and market research, I've developed a working theory about the difference. It's less about intent and more about the standards you hold before you ever write a line of code.
Read essay →~1,000 words · 5 min read
Covers: privacy software, clinical AI, the human cost of engineering decisions, what patents actually record.
The Manager's Paradox
There's a common piece of career advice for new engineering managers: stop being an engineer. Step back from the technical details. It's wrong — or at least, it's incomplete. The further you move from individual contribution, the more your technical judgment matters. Not your expertise. Your judgment.
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