Having scaled and exited a company, I know what it’s like to be the “Chief Problem Solver”. Over the course of my career I've been fortunate to serve in every area of a software company from Software Engineer Intern to Chief Operating Officer at sizes ranging from startup to large (1B+) public companies. I've built and led Product, Engineering, Sales, Marketing, and G&A (Finance, HR, IT) teams to achieve rapid growth and successful M&A (both buying and selling). A passionate teacher and coach, I enjoy creating a culture that attracts talent while growing and developing individuals, teams and leaders together - it's the only way to have fulfilling work as a team.I've spent a lot of time helping executives and boards understand thorny technology issues while simultaneously helping the technical teams understand the business needs and requirements for growth - this divide exists in almost every company and hinders their ability to move quickly in market and still feel like a team. I am happy to stand in the gap to help the entire organization build the operational systems they need to work together and achieve their vision. That's why we founded Ajito.At Ajito, we focus on training the next generation of digital innovators and leaders. We help them grow, realize fulfilling careers, and bridge the divide that exists between the technical and the business sides of the organization. We believe that technology is the answer to some of our planets most pressing issues and that only by working better together can we achieve great outcomes. I began my speaking career at JavaOne in 2002, and have been chosen to speak at Keynotes, Breakout sessions, Workshops, and other events over the years. An engaging and high-energy speaker and teacher, I love getting people excited about the future of technology and how they can grow personally to impact the world in a positive way. Before the pandemic I was excited to see you all at DeveloperWeek in San Fran in February and gave my first completely virtual keynote at the Midwest Developer Conference in April 2020 and at DeveloperWeek Virtual Conferences since the pandemic began. I'll be speaking at more conferences virtually this year so I hope to see you there!