from the perspective of
startup ceo
how i approach problem solving, prioritization, data and product culture, as interviewed by a simulated early-stage ceo.
_ about
architect by training.
builder by nature.
I'm a licensed architect (buildings, not software) who ended up building software anyway.
I spent ~8 years delivering megaprojects in the US and middle east (like this one), then ~7 years leading product at construction tech startups (like this one). Today I'm an applied AI lead at bechtel, I run my own architecture practice, and I build custom digital tools for businesses that need something that doesn't exist off the shelf.
When you've done the work yourself, empathy and passion come naturally.
some things i'm proud of
- doing the hard workdesigning + renovating our 1938 historic home and making it 100% electric.
- taking risksliving and working in the middle east.
- growthinstrumental in raising >$40MM in venture capital.
- innovatingsetting home framing records with new tech.
- impacthelping thousands of contractors get time back with their families.
_ career
from job sites to product teams to AI.
-
2024 – now
bechtel
applied AI lead
back where my career started, this time building the tools. applying machine learning, reinforcement learning and LLMs to engineering and construction problems at one of the largest builders in the world. the specifics are confidential.
applied AI / ML / RL for engineering + construction
-
2021 – now
studio 3J
founder + architect
climate-first architectural practice delivering sustainable and affordable housing in the phoenix metro.
-
2022 – 2023
arcsite
head of product + pm
first product hire. formed company strategy and the OKR program, established metrics and analytics best practices. doubled app store revenue, doubled b2b revenue, doubled CSAT.
iOS / Windows / Android CAD and estimating
-
2021 – 2022
1build
head of product + pm
first product hire. delivered the first commercial release and established the product function, processes and best practices (agile-lite). helped the company go from seed through closing its series A.
web app + API for construction takeoff and estimating with live cost data
-
2019 – 2021
mosaic
sr product manager
employee #8 at a greylock and a16z backed startup. swiss-army knife. led product development, hands-on with users in the field building homes with our tech (and my own two hands). instrumental in closing a mega series A.
web + mobile app that reinvented construction drawings for the trades. a construction OS.
-
2018 – 2019
ineight
director, product strategy
$100MM ARR SaaS. led global product strategy and partnerships, launched the integration marketplace, and oversaw several acquisitions that boosted ARR by 30%.
web + mobile platform for capital projects: estimating, scheduling, cost, BIM
-
2016 – 2018
bechtel innovate
program manager
founding member of bechtel's $60MM venture program. built the strategy and toolkit for internal innovation and product development, ran the pitch process and funding structures, and advised project teams scaling solutions to >20x ROI.
emerging tech across web, on-prem and mobile: AR/VR, big data, additive manufacturing, estimating, generative design
-
2011 – 2016
bechtel
various roles
international experience across mega project delivery: design management, contracts, project controls, field engineering, construction management, business development and joint ventures.
projects: riyadh metro ($10bn+), muscat international airport ($4bn+), dulles metro ($3bn+), google fiber ($1bn+)
-
2006 – 2011
architecture
designer, architect
learning how to design well and practice architecture with great firms: apdg, ballinger, and burns + beyerl.
high-end residential, office, healthcare
_ education
- master of architecture
university of illinois (UIUC), 2010 - bachelor of science in architecture
university of illinois (UIUC), 2008 - minor in mathematics
university of illinois (UIUC), 2007
_ soul from role
- lifelong guitarist. i love progressive metal and jazz.
- finding extreme joy building lego towers and forts with my young daughter.
- citizen of the world. i've lived and worked on several continents, with long stretches in turkey, germany and oman.
- fixing things. diy projects. building furniture.
_ how i think
two mock interviews, answered by me.
questions prompted by chatGPT. answers unassisted and unedited by AI.
from the perspective of
vc on construction
where technology is (and isn't) changing construction, as interviewed by a simulated construction-tech vc.