When I first got to college, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study, let alone pursue as a career. I decided to start off as an English literature major because I liked reading and I thought it would teach me to more effectively express myself and analyze the things I saw and read. Eventually, […]

Your first job out of college really matters. Who you meet, what you learn, and what you accomplish in those first years will go a long way toward determining how the rest of your career unfolds.

Over the past year, I’ve spent dozens of hours in a car, train, or plane next to a coworker. We Atoms travel together between offices and to client sites, outreach events, and conferences. I’ve always loved traveling. The passing landscape provides the perfect backdrop for a nap, catching up on email, or staring out the […]

Developing custom software is tough. There are numerous unknowns and tradeoffs at every stage of a project—each with unique short-, medium-, and long-term consequences in several dimensions. As a consultant, my job is to help people navigate those complex tradeoffs, and to build an app that will help my clients do what they do better, […]

Good leaders get a lot of credit—and they deserve it. But leaders (and teams!) can only thrive if they have active followers. What do I mean? Let me tell you about an experience I had this year in a very different situation—kayaking off the coast of New Zealand.

Job shadowing can be stressful. Awkward introductions, unclear expectations, and ambiguous objectives can impede what should be a productive learning experience. Instead, learn from my mistakes. Avoid these common pitfalls, and make the most of your shadowing opportunity.

DEF CON was an interesting experience. From the badges to the 110-degree days, a lot happened and a lot was learned. The conference may have a reputation of being a constant party, but it’s more than that. Here’s my account of what happened at DEF CON 26.