From Origami to AI: The Roots of an Entrepreneur

In the tapestry of life, it’s often the earliest threads that set the pattern for all that follows. As I reflect on my journey from a child folding paper in daycare to a tech leader navigating the complexities of blockchain and AI, I’m struck by how clearly the seeds of my future were sown in those early years. This is the story of those formative experiences – a tale of loving parents, creative entrepreneurship, educational challenges, and the diverse interests that would shape my approach to technology and business.

The Foundation: A Family’s Journey

My story begins with my parents – two individuals whose 50-year marriage has been a bedrock of stability and inspiration in my life. Their journey mirrors the classic American dream: starting from humble beginnings and steadily building a life of comfort and opportunity for their family.

In the early years, we were poor. I have vague memories of those times – the careful budgeting, the hand-me-downs, the simple pleasures that didn’t cost much but meant everything. But what stands out more than the lack of material wealth was the abundance of love, support, and encouragement that filled our home.

As I grew, so did our family’s fortunes. By the time I reached high school, we had solidly established ourselves in the middle class. This transition taught me invaluable lessons about perseverance, the value of hard work, and the importance of financial responsibility. It also instilled in me a deep appreciation for the opportunities that came my way, knowing they were the result of my parents’ tireless efforts.

The First Venture: Origami Empire

Entrepreneurship, it seems, was in my blood from the start. My first foray into the business world came in the unlikeliest of forms: origami. It began innocently enough in daycare and summer camps, where I discovered a knack for folding paper into intricate shapes. What started as a hobby soon blossomed into my first “company.”

With the boldness that only a child can muster, I set up a small origami empire. I recruited other kids to make the paper creations and enlisted a sales force to peddle our wares throughout the camp. It was a crude but effective business model – I was the idea guy, the manager, and the one who pocketed the lion’s share of the profits.

This venture taught me my first lessons in business: the power of delegation, the importance of a good product, and the thrill of seeing an idea come to life. But it also gave me my first taste of regulatory pushback. When the camp counselors caught wind of my budding enterprise, they swiftly shut it down.

But every setback is an opportunity for innovation. Faced with this roadblock, I pivoted – a skill that would serve me well in my future tech career. Instead of selling origami, I began teaching other kids how to make it. This shift from product to service not only kept me in business but also revealed the joy of sharing knowledge and skills with others – a passion that would later influence my leadership style.

Education: Challenges and Triumphs

School was a mixed bag of experiences for me. Academically, I excelled, finding myself in the Gifted program early on. But this came with its own set of challenges. The regular classroom often felt stifling, the pace too slow for my racing mind. In retrospect, it’s clear that I was grappling with undiagnosed ADHD, although that realization wouldn’t come until much later in life.

My parents and teachers grappled with how best to nurture my abilities while ensuring my social development. There were discussions about having me skip several grades, a move that could have accelerated my academic journey. However, my parents, in their wisdom, prioritized my social growth. They wanted me to develop alongside peers my own age, believing that emotional and social intelligence were just as crucial as academic prowess.

This decision had its pros and cons. On one hand, it allowed me to develop a well-rounded set of social skills and friendships that have lasted a lifetime. On the other, it meant enduring years of educational environments that weren’t always stimulating or challenging enough for my restless mind.

Looking back, I can appreciate the complexity of this decision. While part of me wonders what might have been had I been allowed to accelerate academically, I’m grateful for the social experiences and life skills I gained by remaining with my age group. It taught me the valuable lesson that intelligence comes in many forms, and that success in life requires more than just book smarts.

A Childhood of Diverse Interests

One of the greatest gifts of my childhood was the opportunity to explore a wide range of interests. Growing up in a rapidly expanding town that still maintained a strong sense of community, I was exposed to a rich tapestry of experiences.

Sports played a significant role in my youth. The neighborhood parks became my second home, where I spent countless hours honing my skills in various athletic pursuits. These experiences taught me the value of teamwork, discipline, and the joy of physical activity – lessons that would later translate into my approach to team management in the tech world.

But my interests weren’t limited to the athletic field. I found myself drawn to the arts as well. Participation in a local play awakened a love for theater and performance. This experience not only boosted my confidence but also honed my public speaking skills – an asset that would prove invaluable in my future role as a tech leader and public speaker.

Music and visual arts also captured my imagination. Whether it was learning an instrument or experimenting with different art forms, these creative outlets provided balance to my more analytical pursuits. They taught me the importance of creativity in problem-solving and the power of approaching challenges from multiple perspectives.

This well-rounded upbringing – a mix of sports, arts, academics, and early entrepreneurial ventures – laid the groundwork for my future success. It taught me to see connections between disparate fields, to think creatively, and to value diverse perspectives – all crucial skills in the fast-paced, ever-evolving world of technology.

The University Years: Independence and Growth

As I transitioned to university, a new chapter of my life unfolded – one marked by independence, hard work, and personal growth. Despite our family’s journey to middle-class comfort, paying for university was a challenge I had to meet head-on. This wasn’t a burden, but an opportunity to prove my mettle and gain real-world experience.

Throughout my university years, I juggled multiple jobs alongside my studies. This wasn’t just about earning money; it was a crash course in time management, prioritization, and the value of hard work. From campus jobs to off-campus gigs, each role taught me something new about responsibility, customer service, and the diverse perspectives of people from all walks of life.

Balancing work and academics was no small feat. There were late nights, early mornings, and moments of doubt. But each challenge overcome was a building block for the future. This experience instilled in me a work ethic and resilience that would become cornerstone traits in my later career as a tech entrepreneur and leader.

Moreover, working my way through university gave me a deep appreciation for the value of education and the opportunities it affords. It wasn’t just about the degree at the end; it was about the journey of self-discovery, the skills acquired, and the networks built along the way.

Reflecting on the Journey

As I look back on these formative years – from my first origami “business” to working my way through university – I’m struck by how each experience, challenge, and triumph has shaped my path in the tech world. The entrepreneurial spirit kindled in childhood, the ability to pivot in the face of obstacles, the value of diverse interests, and the work ethic forged through necessity – all these elements have been crucial in my journey to tech leadership.

My story is a testament to the fact that the path to success in the tech industry isn’t always a straight line. It’s not just about coding skills or business acumen; it’s about the sum of our experiences, the lessons learned from our struggles, and the unique perspective we bring to the table.

For aspiring tech entrepreneurs and leaders, my journey underscores the importance of embracing diverse experiences, being unafraid to start small, and valuing every lesson life offers. Whether it’s folding origami, performing in a local play, or juggling multiple jobs, every experience contributes to the toolbox you’ll draw from in your professional life.

As I continue to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of technology, I carry with me the lessons from my childhood bedroom-turned-origami-workshop, the community theaters, the sports fields, and the university jobs. These experiences remind me to approach challenges with creativity, to value teamwork and diversity, and to never underestimate the power of perseverance and hard work.

Riding the Dot-Com Wave

As the ink dried on my university diploma in the mid-90s, the world was on the cusp of a digital revolution. The internet was transitioning from a academic curiosity to a commercial frontier, and I was determined to be at the forefront of this transformation.

The First Ventures

With the optimism and fearlessness of youth, I dove headfirst into the burgeoning dot-com world. My first company was born in a cramped apartment, fueled by instant noodles and endless cups of coffee. We were building websites for businesses that were just beginning to realize they needed an online presence. It was exhilarating work – every day brought new challenges and opportunities.

As the internet boom gained momentum, so did my ambitions. One company led to another, each venture a little bigger, a little bolder than the last. We were riding the wave of digital transformation, and it felt like the sky was the limit.

The Tech Incubator: A Dream Realized

By 2000, I had accumulated enough experience and capital to embark on my most ambitious project yet: a tech incubator. The concept was to create a nurturing environment for startups, providing them with resources, mentorship, and funding to turn their ideas into reality.

It was a heady time. Our incubator buzzed with the energy of young entrepreneurs, each convinced they were building the next big thing. We were at the heart of the dot-com frenzy, and the future seemed boundless.

The Crash: A Harsh Lesson

But as the saying goes, what goes up must come down. The dot-com bubble burst in 2001, and the fallout was swift and merciless. Overnight, funding dried up, valuations plummeted, and many of the startups we had nurtured closed their doors.

The decision to shut down the incubator was one of the hardest I’ve ever had to make. It wasn’t just the financial loss that stung; it was seeing the dreams of so many talented individuals put on hold.

Yet, this crash, painful as it was, taught me invaluable lessons about resilience, the importance of sustainable business models, and the dangers of irrational exuberance. These lessons would serve me well in the years to come.

Navigating the Post Dot-Com Landscape

After the dust settled from the dot-com crash, my career took an unexpected turn. Instead of retreating to safer, more traditional tech roles, I found myself drawn to the complex world of government consulting. This decision would set the stage for a career defined by adaptability, continuous learning, and a knack for bringing technological innovation to diverse and often traditional industries.

Big Government: Tech Meets Bureaucracy

My foray into government consulting was an eye-opener. Here was a sector ripe for technological transformation but bound by layers of bureaucracy and established processes. It was a challenge that required not just technical skills, but also diplomacy, patience, and the ability to navigate complex organizational structures.

This experience taught me invaluable lessons about managing large-scale projects, working within rigid systems while pushing for innovation, and the importance of clear communication when introducing new technologies. Little did I know, these skills would prove crucial in my future roles across various industries.

Ed Tech Revolution: VR for Veterinarians

From the halls of government, I made a leap into the world of educational technology, specifically at Banfield Pet Hospital. As the company expanded rapidly from 50 to 2000 hospitals, I found myself at the forefront of a digital transformation in veterinary education.

Our mission was ambitious: to leverage Virtual Reality (VR) and other advanced training technologies to revolutionize how veterinarians learn and practice. This project was a perfect blend of cutting-edge technology and practical, real-world application. We were not just building cool tech; we were directly impacting the quality of animal healthcare.

The acquisition by Mars brought new resources and challenges, teaching me valuable lessons about maintaining innovation and agility within a large corporate structure.

Entrepreneurial Interlude: Building and Learning

Following my time at Banfield, I returned briefly to my entrepreneurial roots, starting a couple of companies. While these ventures were modestly successful, their real value lay in the lessons learned and the skills honed. Each challenge and setback was a building block, preparing me for the diverse roles that lay ahead.

Nike and Valiant: Disrupting Retail

My next big move was to Nike, where I was tasked with building out their Direct to Consumer strategy and leading their disruptive technology incubator, Valiant. This role put me at the intersection of retail, technology, and brand strategy.

At Valiant, we were pushing the boundaries of what was possible in retail tech. From advanced data analytics to innovative customer experiences, we were reimagining the future of shopping. This experience sharpened my skills in identifying and developing disruptive technologies within a large, established company.

AppNexus: Diving into Ad Tech

From the world of sneakers and sports apparel, I pivoted to the fast-paced realm of advertising technology with AppNexus. This shift brought me into the heart of the digital advertising revolution, working on platforms that were reshaping how ads were bought, sold, and delivered online.

The subsequent acquisition by AT&T added another layer to my experience, providing insights into how tech innovations fare when absorbed into massive telecommunications companies.

Wayfair and TradeLens: Revolutionizing Logistics

My journey then took me into the world of logistics, first with Wayfair and then with the blockchain platform TradeLens. At Wayfair, I worked on optimizing the complex supply chains that power modern e-commerce. This experience laid the groundwork for my role at TradeLens, where we were using blockchain technology to transform global trade.

As the CTO of TradeLens, I was at the forefront of applying blockchain to solve real-world problems in shipping and logistics. This project was a testament to the power of technology to bring transparency and efficiency to an industry that had remained largely unchanged for decades.

The AI Frontier: Vala and Beyond

Today, I find myself at the cutting edge of technology once again, working with generative AI at Vala. This latest chapter in my career feels like a culmination of everything that came before – the need for innovation, the importance of practical application, and the potential to transform industries.

Reflections on a Diverse Career

Looking back on this winding career path, several themes emerge:

1. Adaptability is Key: Each industry jump required rapid learning and adaptation. My ability to quickly understand new domains and identify opportunities for technological innovation has been crucial.
2. Technology as a Universal Language: Whether in government, veterinary medicine, retail, or logistics, technology serves as a common thread, a tool for solving problems and driving efficiency.
3. The Value of Diverse Experiences: Each role brought unique challenges and perspectives, creating a rich tapestry of experiences that inform my approach to problem-solving and innovation.
4. Innovation Knows No Boundaries: Some of the most impactful innovations happen when bringing ideas from one industry into another.
5. The Constant of Change: The only constant in my career has been change itself. Embracing this has been key to staying relevant and effective in the fast-paced world of tech.

My journey from government consulting to the frontiers of AI has been anything but conventional. Yet, it’s precisely this diverse background that has shaped my unique approach to technology leadership. In each role, I’ve brought an outsider’s perspective, questioning established norms and finding innovative ways to apply technology to solve problems.

As I look to the future, I’m excited by the possibilities that lie ahead, particularly in the realm of AI and its potential to transform industries. My career has taught me that the most interesting developments often happen at the intersection of different fields, and I’m eager to continue exploring these intersections.

To aspiring tech leaders, my advice is this: Don’t be afraid to take the road less traveled. Embrace diverse experiences, always be ready to learn, and remember that your unique journey is what will set you apart in the world of technology.

The future of tech leadership belongs to those who can draw insights from a wide range of experiences, who can see connections where others see only differences, and who are always ready to adapt to the next big change. As for me, I’m excited to see where this ever-evolving journey in tech will lead next.