I started programming at the age of 12. During the summer, I helped with inventorying and repairing library books, and that was when my school bought twelve Apple II computers. There was nobody at the school who knew anything about computers, including teachers. To show her appreciation for my help, Mrs. Rockefeller, the librarian, gave me a copy of the Apple II owner's manual, the "Getting Started" book, and even a key to the computer lab as a sign of trust. With those resources, I taught myself how to code over the next few months and wrote grading and other programs for the school district until I graduated. Little did I know that this would open up endless possibilities to create, innovate, and push the boundaries of technology.Through my experience, I have learned that anticipating and understanding the changing path of technology is crucial to maintaining business performance. As a technology executive and chief software architect, I have always been an early adopter of emerging technologies to ensure efficient, collaborative, and high-quality development while meeting business objectives. This philosophy has been critical to my success in directing the development of technology strategy, front- and back-end software architecture, and integration/distribution alliances across industries.Living and working overseas as a representative of the parent companies has given me more insight into bridging not only the technology gap but also cultural differences. This perspective is invaluable in my everyday work. This is the hands-on experience, attitude, and knowledge I bring to the job.P.S. I still have the key to the computer lab.