When I was just starting out in software, I dreaded interviewing. It stressed me out so much, and I often felt like I was a bother to the people interviewing me (their body language suggested they had made up their mind). However, the outcome of a successful interview—getting a job offer—was and still is one of my favorite feelings in the world!
I joined Amazon during a rapid growth phase and got thrown into the world of interviewing by doing “phone screens.” Coming up with unique questions and figuring out how to evaluate them turned out to be a fun challenge, and I really enjoyed it. I also had a lot of empathy for the interviewees, as I had some imposter syndrome working at Amazon alongside people from Ivy League schools and Stanford.
After about 20 phone screens, I started doing on-site interviews, and after 50 or so on-sites, I was nominated to be in the “Bar Raiser” program. It turned out I actually liked doing interviews, and the nervousness and dread were gone. I was also fortunate to receive positive feedback from people throughout my career who remembered my interviews as fun and not a dreadful experience.
As I did more and more interviews, I found that my approach—being curious, gathering data, and building connections—directly tied into being a manager. I didn’t see it as “I am the boss, do this,” but more of a “This is the problem we have, how do we solve it?”
I’m confident that if I hadn’t taken on the role of Bar Raiser and done over 1500 interviews at Amazon, I wouldn’t have the same approach to leadership (nor the insights I gained from learning all those people’s stories).
How My Experience Can Benefit Your Business
With 20 years of software engineering experience and 15 years building teams, I bring a wealth of knowledge and hands-on technical expertise. Whether you’re a start-up or a Fortune 500 company, my experience spans both ends of the spectrum. I’ve recently built an iOS app using GenAI, showcasing my ability to stay technically adept.
One of my unique strengths is working with both non-technical groups and deeply technical teams. This versatility allows me to set up robust technical foundations for various industries, not just software companies.
Success Stories
- E-commerce and Inventory Management for a Manufacturer: I set up a technical foundation for a manufacturer to sell their content online (e-commerce, Amazon FBA) and built an integrated inventory management system. This system freed up one full-time employee due to efficiency gains.
- Scaling a Start-up: I helped a start-up double their engineering team and transition from an on-prem solution to a hybrid local/cloud system, enhancing their scalability and performance.
Let’s See How I Can Help You
If you’re looking for a part-time CTO, CTO consultant, CTO advisor, or technical advisor to help scale your tech team, grow leaders within your team, or set up a solid tech foundation, let’s chat.
Schedule a free call with me on Zoom or Google Hangout to discuss how I can assist with your specific needs.