Technology and I have always had a relationship that’s been intricately interwoven. As a child, I was dubbed a “tech prodigy,” winning numerous honors and awards at state and national-level competitions, including a 1st place Blue Ribbon for demonstrating programming with artificial intelligence (AI). My deep passion and curiosity for all things technical and financial made my decisions surrounding a FinTech career a no-brainer. Now I use my hands-on technical background to serve as a trusted advisor to the business with a focus on pragmatic solutions that drive bottom-line performance.I began my career at a CPA firm, serving as the Director of Operations and helping them to drive productivity and automation through technology innovation. I went on to serve in hands-on technical engineering roles focused on network architecture and infrastructure modernization at Walt Disney and SunAmerica/AIG.In 1999, I joined a PE/VC-funded FinTech startup, leading the strategy, build out, and execution of all enterprise systems, telecom, call center infrastructure, IT security and governance programs. Just two years later, I was recruited to transform and direct all technology functions for a $1B+ real estate investment firm in the capacity of CTO. Key highlights include:► Revamping the entire technology stack► Creating a rapidly scalable, nimble technology framework and organizational structure► Leading the adoption of virtual, cloud, SaaS, digital/web, and mobile solutions► Navigating multiple external IT SOX audits successfully with no findings and even earning auditor accolades for best practicesI hold a Bachelor’s degree in Information Science and have been featured in multiple industry publications, including InformationWeek, NetworkWorld, KMWorld, and an EMC case study. I am an active member of the CIO Executive Network, the CTO Forum LA Chapter, and a number of animal welfare charities.