I always find myself in unfamiliar or unestablished environments. From being a member of my college’s inaugural class, to my career transition into IT, to the professional positions that I’ve held (which have been as wither the sole member of a new department or as an early member of an early-stage team) I am undeniably attracted to the opportunities and challenges of the unknown.As a result I have had a number of unique opportunities, for which I am extremely grateful, that have played a central role in shaping my personal and professional life.One of those has been the opportunity to try new things and to fail, which, I’m proud to say, is something that I have done many times. I’m intimately familiar with the experience of building something up, becoming invested in it, and ultimately having to let go, move on quickly, and learn from my mistakes. Maybe most importantly, though, I’ve had the opportunity to work with and learn from some incredible leaders and innovators. New and unproven territory attracts a unique breed of leadership: prudent risk takers, people who take ownership of their responsibilities, people who actively listen and who truly value the insights of others. I consider it a great privilege to have been in a position to learn from these people for most of my adult life. Other than that, I’m also a huge fan of boxing, Korean food, and 90s action movies.