In any setting, I’d be one to amplify an atmosphere of stability, collaboration, courage, and growth. Professionally, I excel at leading teams, developing customers, and managing operations.I have vivid memories of one summer with my grandma, carrying home our farm harvest and cooking flavorful meals on her firewood hearth. She was 80 and I was 10. I recall her purposeful approach to tasks and the disarming smile she’d wear when I added too much salt to the soup as we cooked together. She encouraged my innate curiosity, made room for me to explore, praised my relentless work-ethic and expected me to treat others similarly.During sophomore year in college, my parents were no longer able to financially support me. I was 18, devastated, and alone with no family within 12,000 miles. After a short time of feeling sorry for myself, as if on auto-pilot, I took action to remedy my situation. In hindsight, I successfully renegotiated my financial aid, cosigned by the college, resulting in a low-interest rate. Post college, and after a few years in industry, I pursued an MBA with the intent to start a high growth software business. My concept was technologically similar to Groupon’s but rather than disintermediate organizations such as chambers of commerce, ours would increase their relevance. With a team of 3 others who passed on full-time job pursuits, we secured funding and I ran the business for 3 years. Although the business ended, my self-awareness grew. A mentor’s quote puts it well: “As a leader, Austin possesses a remarkable ability to perceive needs, synthesize them, and inspire action towards his team’s desired outcome.”I consider it a privilege to have opportunities to encourage, coach, and partner with people to achieve significant goals either on an individual basis or as a team… and vice versa.