Category: Culture

  • What do AI headshots tell us about our values?

    What do AI headshots tell us about our values?

    Observing the recent influx of headshots built by AI tools, I have noticed a preference toward certain physical attributes and styles. We may not be comfortable saying what we think a “professional” looks like, but our AI models are now speaking for us. One of the existential challenges of AI is that it forces us…

  • Three things Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can teach Business Leaders

    Three things Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can teach Business Leaders

    You have probably seen that prominent tech leaders such as Mark Zuckerburg and Elon Musk are training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Maybe you wonder how fighting appeals to these titans of the tech industry. I won’t argue the efficacy of one martial art over another, but one thing that stands out for Jiu-Jitsu is that you…

  • It’s ok to be the smartest person in the room.

    It’s ok to be the smartest person in the room.

    The slogans we tell ourselves shape our actions and mindset. The common adage to surround yourself with smart people, aka “be the dumbest person in the room”, has some merit. You are prompting yourself to listen, to learn, to ask clarifying questions. These are all valuable actions. But this mindset can also hold you back…

  • A Continuous Learning Organization

    A Continuous Learning Organization

    Growth Mindset has brought the transformation from know-it-alls to learn-it-alls. This was an incredibly powerful shift for individuals. We should ask ourselves, “what is the corresponding evolution for an organization?” When software was a “shipped” product, it made sense to train people on how the shipped version worked. You could reasonably expect that knowledge to…

  • Become a Culture Leader

    Early-stage career development in technical roles is driven by developing the ability to deliver more and more complex solutions. If you increase your technical skills, have basic professionalism, and are reasonably productive, that is usually enough to propel you upward in seniority. But there may come a day when this formula ceases to be so…