I’ve worked on all levels of the software stack, from defining strategy to shaping projects to designing interfaces to writing code to marketing.
In 2003 I was on the team of three at 37signals that created Basecamp and deeply influenced the early software-as-a-service industry. Over 17 years, I designed features used by millions and invented processes our teams used to design, develop and ship software. Always looking to understand the bigger picture, my role evolved from UI Designer to Product Manager to Head of Strategy.
At each step, I had to solve problems in a new field using methods that aren’t taught in schools. This led me to acquire a unique toolkit of research and strategy tools to “see in the dark” when no one else knew where to go.
My expertise lies in the zone between the demand and the supply side. I figure out what potential customers are struggling to do, map that to technical expertise, then shape a product concept that teams can implement.
In 2019, I wrote a book about managing software development: Shape Up: Stop Running in Circles and Ship Work that Matters. Widely read by leaders in the industry, Shape Up changed the way many software teams talk about shaping projects, making bets, and targeting unknowns.
