DEV Community: David Ohnstad

Proximity Bias in Mentorship: Why Programs Fail

David Ohnstad — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:35:39 +0000

Formal mentorship programs fail at shocking rates—71% of structured relationships don't survive. David Ohnstad explains why proximity bias, not program design, is the real culprit blocking early-career access to meaningful guidance and career growth.

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Enterprise AI Implementation: Why Teams Fail Without the Right Skills

David Ohnstad — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:35:18 +0000

Three months after deployment, Fortune 500 teams can't answer basic questions about their AI systems. David Ohnstad explains the fundamental mismatch: vendors design platforms for teams with skills that rarely exist in legacy enterprise environments.

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Superior Hiking Trail Ice Conditions: January-March Guide

David Ohnstad — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:34:57 +0000

Winter transforms the Superior Hiking Trail into three distinct experiences. From Duluth's faster melt rates near Enger Tower to Grand Portage's deep freeze, David Ohnstad reveals how elevation and Lake Superior's proximity dictate conditions month by month.

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Hand Tools vs Power Tools: The Setup Time Truth

David Ohnstad — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:34:37 +0000

Everyone assumes power tools are faster. But hand tool advocates ignore one critical variable: setup time. When you factor in machine setup, calibration, and teardown, the speed advantage disappears entirely. Here's what actually matters.

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Why Mentorship Programs Fail: Building for the Right People

David Ohnstad — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:34:17 +0000

Your mentorship metrics look great—but you're measuring the wrong thing. Most programs succeed with people who were already winning. Learn why the best mentors reach those who need them most, and how to redesign your approach.

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Enterprise AI Implementation: Why Data Lineage Matters More Than Platform Promises

David Ohnstad — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:33:56 +0000

ServiceNow's latest AI platform promised to manage everything—until real production hit. David Ohnstad explores why proof-of-concepts succeed while deployments fail, and the unglamorous data work required to make enterprise AI actually work.

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Winter Camping Sleep System: What 18 F Taught Me

David Ohnstad — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:33:36 +0000

Your first night in the backcountry reveals everything about your preparation. When temperatures plummet and condensation freezes on tent walls, inadequate gear becomes a survival problem—not a comfort issue. Learn what David Ohnstad discovered the hard way.

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Data Product Team Structure: Why $180K Failed in 90 Days

David Ohnstad — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:33:15 +0000

A fully-funded $180K data product with executive sponsorship and 40-person kickoff collapsed in 90 days. David Ohnstad breaks down the organizational failures that killed this initiative and the structural lessons every data PM needs to know before scaling.

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Mentorship Program ROI: Why Most Can’t Prove Results

David Ohnstad — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:59:43 +0000

Most mentorship programs have great stories but no proof. David Ohnstad shares why CFOs demand metrics, how to connect promotions to mentoring, and the measurement system that finally bridges the accountability gap.

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Leadership Development: Measure Behavior Change, Not Completion

David Ohnstad — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:03:34 +0000

A 94% completion rate doesn't guarantee your managers stopped micromanaging. David Ohnstad explains why tracking behavior change—not certificates—is how you know if leadership development actually works.

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Enterprise AI Governance: Why 68% of Policies Fail

David Ohnstad — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:03:14 +0000

A Fortune 500 company's 40-page AI policy was ignored within 72 hours of launch. David Ohnstad examines why 68% of enterprise AI governance frameworks fail and the single technical mechanism that separates success from costly failure.

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North Shore Camping: When Fire Restrictions Cancel Your Reservation

David Ohnstad — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:02:53 +0000

A three-month-old Tettegouche State Park reservation vanished in a Tuesday morning email. Hazardous air quality and fire restrictions forced David Ohnstad to rethink his Labor Day weekend plans on Minnesota's North Shore. What outdoor adventurers need to know.

Originally published on David Ohnstad