My DNA

I don't want to sound arrogant and lacking of humbleness, but I'm damn good at what I do. I'm an 10x developer: remarkable at system design and architecture, with a surgically sharp mind for problem solving, I nurture ownership, and my contributions ALWAYS result in teams being more productive and ultimately I drive growth in the companies I work for.

Yet I'm failing every fucking interview that requires that I display the smallest amount of charisma and rapport. My wife says I speak like a scared puppy begging for an opportunity to work, that I need to be more of a shark.

I think she's right, and so I'll write a series of articles that will help me to avoid suffering from psychological scope creep. Keep my self image clear in my head, and answer assertively whenever I'm faced with a question about who I am and why I am a good hire.

This first post will be analogous to what multiple companies refer to as "our DNA", or "our culture" or "our values". The constitution that oversees hiring, internal policies, vision and conflict resolution.

So, without further ado:

• Empathy: I build software to make life easier—for users, developers, teams, and our future selves. My focus is on DevX (Developer Experience) and creating solutions that are intuitive, reliable, and scalable, so they grow independently and deliver value long after I’ve moved on.
• Trust & Ownership: I thrive in environments where trust and autonomy are the norm. Teams that truly own their software move with confidence rather than fear. When ownership is lacking, changes become hesitant, leading to complexity as developers work around the edges of what they’re afraid to touch.
• Alignment & Collaboration: I believe in working toward shared goals with open communication and mutual respect. I value diverse perspectives and strive to create alignment across teams to drive impactful outcomes. Everyone can have valuable ideas.
• Impactful Problem-Solving: I don’t just solve problems—I solve the right problems. I prioritize solutions that deliver the most value with the least complexity, always keeping the bigger picture in mind.