Everyone loves to hear an origin story, here's my story:At the young age of 12, I self-taught myself C/C++ and Linux in order to host my own online game. This incredible journey began when I was playing a text-based game Multi-User Dungeon ("M.U.D." for short) and thought "Hey! What if I built my own version?". Within six months, I successfully launched my own M.U.D. game which ran for two years. My whimsical dream turned out to be my very first step into the ever changing and unpredictable software engineering world.My professional outlook:During my professional journey, I began as an individual contributor but swiftly made the transition to become an engineering leader within just a few years. I uncovered a genuine passion for assembling and nurturing high-performing teams by discovering that leadership and management are distinct roles. True leadership entails earning an individual's trust, motivating them, and empowering them to achieve their full potential. I've witnessed firsthand the remarkable feats that a great team can accomplish.Who I am as a person:Outside the office, I love traveling to experience new cultures, food, and ways of life. I have challenged myself and completed a 3 month backpacking solo trip through Europe with nothing but a one-way plane ticket booked. Closer to home, I am a huge movie buff with an avid interest in tabletop games. I like putting together teams to solve numerous puzzles in escape room games.