I used to think expertise meant knowing more than everyone else in the room. Now I think it means knowing which questions to ask—and which tools extend your reach.
I lead engineering in digital health, working the seam between human systems and technical systems—the place where elegant architecture meets messy reality, where tools succeed or fail based on the people holding them.
Seven years taught me that technology is leverage, not destination. The real win isn't shipping code. It's making a meaningful difference for the humans on the other side.
Recently, something shifted. I spent years believing I had to choose between deep technical work and leadership. That choice felt permanent. Then new tools cracked it open—and my own creativity, dormant for years, began to grow.
What I'm watching now: the rise of generalist leaders, the changing shape of expertise, the question of human agency in increasingly automated systems. Not as abstract debates—as things I'm living through and building toward.
People who shaped my thinking
- Jerry Colonna taught me leadership starts with self-awareness.
- Derek Rutter showed me the best answer is a better question.
- Gil Shklarski reminded me that scaling is about trust, not tech.