My life’s trajectory has been anything but linear: from the din of factory floors to the rigors of law school; from the isolating experience of homelessness to the richness of vibrant, mission-driven communities; from dismantling industrial vessels to architecting companies from first principles. Through it all, I’ve been animated by a relentless curiosity, a deep commitment to service, and a belief that work—when done with integrity and in good company—is one of the most meaningful things we can do with our time.
This winding and unconventional path has led me, quite naturally, to Leverege.
From Grit to Growth
Work, to me, has always been a source of dignity and self-respect, regardless of its form. As a teenager, I routinely worked 105-hour weeks split between slaughterhouse butchery and fast food kitchens—not to make ends meet, but to test the limits of my own endurance. In doing so, I came into contact with people whose tenacity was born not of choice, but of necessity: immigrants for whom this work was the only viable path to stability. Their unflagging dedication to family and community made an indelible impression on me. It recalibrated my understanding of labor—not just as personal trial, but as a deeply communal act.
From those early roles in industrial settings, I spent over a decade in the restaurant world. I began humbly, in a small-town café, and ascended to the high-wire performance of a celebrity chef’s flagship kitchen in San Francisco—all while navigating periods of housing insecurity. In these spaces, I honed my ability to read unspoken needs, respond with grace under pressure, and hold fast to a professionalism grounded in generosity. When we serve others from a place of intentional generosity and grace, it is an empowering, ennobling experience.
Eventually, I wanted a new challenge—something that would stretch my brain the way previous jobs had tested my mettle. That’s what led me to pursue a law degree and MBA at the same time. Law offered a world of structure and clarity where our role is to squeeze the round peg of organic society into the square hole of legal requirements and definitions; business offered a playground of ambiguity and iteration where we simultaneously define our tactics and recalibrate the context of performance and evaluation. Together, they gave me a better understanding of the systems that construct our world and invisibly shape our thoughts, values, and identities.
Choosing Leverege
By the time I encountered Leverege, I had traversed multiple domains—labor, hospitality, technology, law, public service, and government—helping to launch several mission-aligned ventures along the way. Through it all, one truth stood out clearly: the caliber of the people around me defined the quality of my work. I thrive in the presence of sharp minds, open hearts, and restless curiosity.
From the earliest conversations, it was evident that Leverege was that kind of place. Interviews felt less like assessments and more like thoughtful dialogues—at times even philosophical. I left those calls energized, not just by intelligence, but by warmth, honesty, and depth of inquiry. It became clear: this was not merely a team; it was a community of lifelong learners.
What My Work Looks Like
At Leverege, my role straddles two essential dimensions: compliance and systems design. On the compliance side, I focus on rigorous frameworks—ensuring our practices uphold the highest standards of privacy and security. On the systems side, I build the connective tissue between teams, cultivating operational clarity and harmony. My favorite way of describing it is that while most folks work “in” a company, Operations works “on” the company.
One of the most energizing aspects of this work is our culture of continuous improvement. No process, build, or darling is sacrosanct. If a system no longer serves, we refine—or discard—it. Looking back six months and being humbled by how far we've come isn't discouraging; it’s the point.
Remote, but Not Distant
Since transitioning to remote work in 2020, Leverege has avoided the common pitfall of simply transposing old habits into new settings. We reexamined everything. Rather than preserving legacy processes for their own sake, we returned to first principles—asking, “What were we trying to achieve?” and “What’s the best way to achieve that now?”
This level of intentional design is rare—and it’s why we remain a fully remote organization while others are reverting to outdated models of presenteeism.
A Culture of Kind Competence
Before Leverege, many of my workplaces were defined by hierarchy, pressure, and performance at the expense of empathy. Here, the bar remains high, but it is coupled with mutual respect. People explain the “why,” invite collaboration, and encourage others’ growth. Yes, there are moments when a top-down mandate would be more expedient—but we choose autonomy, trust, and shared understanding. That’s not inefficiency; that’s sustainable excellence.
Leverege embodies what I call “kind competence.” It’s not enough to be brilliant. True leadership lifts others as it climbs.
Who Thrives Here
Leverege isn’t for those seeking comfort or narrowly defined roles. It is a haven for polymaths, for builders, for those who delight in complexity and cross-disciplinary thinking. It’s a place for people who care more about the team’s success than personal accolades—and who measure progress not by perfection, but by engaged, iterative learning.
~ Quick Facts ~
- My Leverege Shoutout: Dani Broderick. Though we don’t work closely, I’ve consistently observed her clarity, drive, and generous leadership. She strikes a balance between high standards and authentic warmth—a true cultural anchor.
- Life Outside Work: Most of my non-Leverege time is spent volunteering with Digital Aid Seattle, a nonprofit I founded to build free, open-source digital tools for community organizations, including homeless shelters, animal rescues, and networks supporting survivors of human trafficking.
- Content Recommendation: Recoding America by Jennifer Pahlka—a compelling exploration of the intersection between government and technology, and why fixing that relationship might be one of the most important challenges of our time.
- Could Give a TED Talk About: The underappreciated brilliance of excellent table service. Done well, waiting tables is an elegant dance—combining emotional intelligence, logistics mastery, and soft power. It’s a practice in human connection, situational awareness, and grace under pressure.
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