About

My interest in software development started in high school when I took my first programming class. What immediately hooked me was the ability to bring ideas to life—the sheer power of writing code and watching something functional appear on the screen. Knowing that I could create something and have it make others' lives easier, more efficient, or more enjoyable at scale is what has made me so passionate about it.

Personally, I view programming as a craft, much like woodworking or pottery, where technical skill meets creativity to shape something meaningful that can serve a purpose. The difference is that software extends infinitely, since it's distributed digitally, and can be shared with anyone, anywhere, at any time. This opens up a world of possibilities for solving problems and enabling solutions that scale globally and impact people in ways few other crafts can. That tie-in with technology made it something I felt absolute passionate about from day one.

Beyond the creative and technical aspects, I'm also drawn specifically to how the field rewards learning through failures. Every debugging session, race condition or crash contains lessons that make us better engineers. This resonates with me because I've seen this mindset transform other areas of my life.

In high school, I embarked on a significant weight loss journey that taught me about commitment and personal transformation. The process wasn't easy, as I stepped away from a sport where I'd built most of my friendships, made decisions that sometimes went against my parents' wishes, and had to make conscious changes to the way I approached my daily life. Through this experience, I discovered that meaningful growth happens when you're willing to be uncomfortable.

Additionally, in early 2025, unexpected health issues temporarily took away my ability to peacefully engage with coding, something I had used one of my main sources of joy, and prevented me from connecting with the work I love. It was a difficult experience and forced me to pause and reconsider how I spend my time and energy. When you suddenly can't do what you're passionate about, you quickly figure out what matters most.

These experiences have shown me that we rarely internalize important lessons until we've faced real challenges and failures. I've come to believe that intentionality, extreme ownership and willingness to push forward matters more than perfection. We have limited time and energy each day, and I believe our choices about how to use them shape both what we create and who we become.

Since then, I've continued to develop my skills and push myself, working on side projects, learning new technologies, and participating in hackathons to keep growing. I enjoy exploring the intersections of software, business, and finance, and other disciplines always looking for ways to expand my understanding and impact. I value continuous learning and improvement, and I'm always looking for new challenges to tackle or new things to learn.

I earned my Bachelor's degree in Computer Science at Iowa State University, where I was involved in multiple organizations. I held leadership roles in the Iowa State Investment Group, where I worked on equity research and portfolio management. I was also part of the Computer Science & Software Engineering Club, the Wall Street Club, and worked as a Computer Science Peer Mentor.

Outside of coding, I spend time weightlifting, reading, hiking, and on the rare occasion playing strategy games (Supreme Commander is a personal favorite). The thing I value most in life is always looking for ways to improve—whether that's through fitness, learning, or building something new.

Here are a few fun facts about me:

• I once completed the 4x4x48 fitness challenge, where you run 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours (48 miles total).
• I took a kendo class in Kyoto, Japan, complete with a real sword training session.
• I grew up in Gilbert, Iowa, a small town with a population of around 1,200 people.
• I've attended three Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder Meetings in Omaha, Nebraska.

I enjoy reading and learning about a variety of topics. Below is a selection of some of my favorite books I've read, covering finance, strategy, psychology, and more.

Man's Search for Meaning

Viktor E. Frankl

My Takeaway: Life is not about seeking pleasure or avoiding pain, but rather about finding meaning in any circumstance.

Frankenstein

Mary Shelley

My Takeaway: The pursuit of knowledge without wisdom or ethical consideration can lead to devastating consequences.

Siddhartha

Hermann Hesse

My Takeaway: Often true wisdom comes from direct experience and personal discovery, not from following others' teachings.

Flowers for Algernon

Daniel Keyes

My Takeaway: Intelligence alone does not guarantee happiness or acceptance; empathy and kindness matter most.

1984

George Orwell

My Takeaway: The importance of protecting freedom of thought and the dangers of unchecked authority.

Factfulness

Hans Rosling

My Takeaway: The world is often better than we think, and data-driven thinking helps us see reality more clearly.

Brave New World

Aldous Huxley

My Takeaway: The pursuit of pleasure or comfort alone without consideration of the consequences can lead to the loss of meaning, fufillment, and responsibility.

How Life Imitates Chess

Garry Kasparov

My Takeaway: Strategic thinking and adaptability are crucial in both chess and life.

The War on Normal People

Andrew Yang

My Takeaway: Technological change is rapidly transforming society, and we must adapt to support everyone.

Against the Gods

Peter L. Bernstein

My Takeaway: Understanding and managing risk is fundamental to progress and decision-making.

The Millionaire Next Door

Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko

My Takeaway: Wealth is often built quietly through discipline, frugality, and smart habits.

The Richest Man in Babylon

George S. Clason

My Takeaway: Timeless financial wisdom generally consists of saving, investing, and living below your means.

Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits

Philip A. Fisher

My Takeaway: Long-term investment success comes from understanding businesses, not just numbers.

The Acquirer's Multiple

Tobias E. Carlisle

My Takeaway: Quantitative approaches can be applied to seemingly qualitative aspects of business and life.

Poor Charlie's Almanack

Charles T. Munger

My Takeaway: Mental models and multidisciplinary thinking are keys to better decisions.

Zero to One

Peter Thiel and Blake Masters

My Takeaway: The biggest leaps come from creating something truly new, not just incremental improvements.

Can't Hurt Me

David Goggins

My Takeaway: Mental toughness is built by pushing past your perceived limits.

How to Win Friends and Influence People

Dale Carnegie

My Takeaway: Genuine interest in others and good communication are the foundation of strong relationships.