What aspect of the industry do you think has the most potential for growth, and, on the other hand, which aspect do you think needs the most improvement?
Oh, there are so many areas for growth with technological innovation being the enabler of so much real-world impact. Sustainability and climate change are areas I am most passionate about, with the opportunity spanning supply chain, carbon, waste, weather systems and mitigation, and more. Health is a close second, with anticipated massive growth in diagnostics, prevention, treatment, economic efficiency, access to care, and positive system level disruption to legacy services and financial models. What needs the most improvement? The fact that so much of the positive power of technology is unequally distributed — we must aggressively chase universal access and essential connectivity infrastructure.
When you imagine the future of the technology industry, what does it look like?
I envision a technology industry that is equitable and inclusive, meaning that we democratize access to technology for all people globally — enabling the collective health, education, access to information, and security that is critical to shared prosperity and happiness. Utilitarian and optimistic? Yes. Possible? Absolutely.
What is the most valuable life lesson you have learned so far and how has it helped you in your career?
Good enough is not enough. I learned this initially through my athletic career, and subsequently in relationships and other areas of my life. I live by it — while good enough is easy and fulfilling for some time, it is ultimately boring and not invigorating and motivating and rewarding over time. In my career, I apply this to my effort in relationships, teams, products, and results. Most specifically, I’ve been fortunate to have a very productive and successful career by most standards, but I forced myself in 2015 to step back from the easier path and dedicated myself to finding a new path that bridges my technology experience and passion for sustainability. I studied, went back to school, and worked from a clean slate for the first time in a long time. It was hard and risky, but it worked.
What three adjectives come to mind when you think about the future?
Transformative, impactful, and fulfilling.
