What have you accomplished in your professional life/career since your 40 Under 40 selection?
Over the past 14 years, one significant accomplishment stands out for me. A few years ago, I began working with a team of software developers in Rwanda. I have been mentoring them in one form or another ever since, conducting code reviews, providing learning resources, etc.
Last year, I was invited to go to Rwanda and meet the team in person. I spent a month there teaching a workshop and getting to know them. The trip was such a success that I was invited back again in December, and we did a more advanced workshop with a new group of developers.
The accomplishment was the opportunity to teach in Africa, but I am equally proud of the relationship I was able to establish with my client. Rob and I initially started talking about a game he wanted to build for Apple TV, and through our shared interest, we evolved the conversation into other topics and opportunities. For several months, we kept meeting, even though we didn’t have a specific project in mind. We just knew we wanted to work together. We ended up discussing ways I could help him accomplish some of his goals running his accelerator, RWBuild, located in Kigali, Rwanda.
We never worked on the game, it ended up being a dead-end, but we did (and continue to) change the lives for a young team of software developers in Rwanda.
I own and operate a small mobile app development company in Madison, and I was able to make a connection here that lead me to the other side of the world.
What accomplishments, milestones, or endeavors have you attained in your personal life since your 40 Under 40 selection?
Personal growth has been an ongoing process for me. Admittedly, my work life has always taken priority. Still, I do very much try to maintain a balance between professional and personal accomplishments in my life.
I’ve recently started stepping back and enjoying my life. Being in the moment and finding ways to show appreciation to my friends and family. I am incredibly fortunate, in that I have a network of friends who I can look to for guidance on how to be a better human being.
If you were to “do it all over again,” what (if anything) would you do differently throughout your career?
Easy. Listen to my better judgment. When I started my company, I somehow already knew I wanted to keep it small. Growth for growth’s sake has never interested me. However, against my better judgment, I let some of the people around me convince me otherwise. I wasted years bouncing back and forth between trusting my initial instinct and believing that other people had a better answer.
I welcome mentorship and will continue to do so, but I also put more weight in my judgment. It hasn’t failed me yet.
How did your 40 Under 40 selection help your career?
I suppose the most straightforward answer would be to say it provided a fair amount of exposure for me and my business. It continues to do so.
However, more recently, I have realized that it did much more than that. For me, it offered a professional confidence boost at a time when I needed it. Being recognized by my peers ended up being a great source of validation that I could have success in my own company.
It’s safe to say I wouldn’t have charged ahead with my company if I didn’t receive the recognition early in my career.
What is something that you have a new passion for since the time of your induction — either professionally or personally?
Learning has been a lifelong passion of mine. It comes in handy when you’re working in the tech industry. My interests, however, extend well beyond technology. I could say technology only really interests me when it can be applied to bring people together, make life more comfortable, or solve some problems that would otherwise remain unsolved.
More recently, I’ve found ways of leveraging my experiences for the benefit of others. I’m most passionate about exploring ways I can make an impact on another person, business, product, or even an entire industry. I want to make an impact. I won’t stop until I do.
Based on your experience, do you have any advice for today’s young professionals (under 40)?
Don’t get bogged down in logistical paralysis. Set a goal, go after it, and then move on to the next. Adaptability and speed should be your superpowers.
Surround yourself with interesting people. They don’t have to do what you do professionally to benefit you professionally. You’re smart but you can’t possibly know everything about everything. Never be ashamed to ask questions and admit you don’t know something. Never be too proud to seek out knowledge from any source. Be hungry for knowledge.
You define your success. Don’t get distracted by chasing someone else’s definition of success. If happiness for you means more cupcakes in your hand than dollars in your bank account, then that’s OK. Don’t ever let anyone make you think you are mistaken about that. Enjoy your cupcakes.
Finally, and most importantly, once you find your path, don’t forget to turn around and help the other people following you to their destinations. All your gains in life are empty if you do not share them with other people. Be generous with your time.
Click here to sign up for the free IB Ezine — your twice-weekly resource for local business news, analysis, voices, and the names you need to know. If you are not already a subscriber to In Business magazine, be sure to sign up for our monthly print edition here.
