My Story
"Making the world a better place, one conversation at a time."
From Commodore 64 to CISO: The Builder's Journey
It all started with a beige keyboard and a cathode-ray glow. When my parents brought home a Commodore 64, I didn't just get a computer—I got a portal to another galaxy. Sitting cross-legged in front of that machine, I felt like Luke Skywalker staring at twin suns, on the edge of something bigger than myself.
Somewhere in those early experiments with BASIC programs, I started wondering: what if I could make something only I could see? What if I could hide my words, my thoughts, in plain sight—encrypted like a Jedi holocron? That 9-year-old's playful questions about secrecy would become the foundation of a career in security and encryption.
The Commodore's tagline was "Computers for the masses, not the classes." That wasn't just marketing—it was truth. My parents weren't technologists, they weren't wealthy, but they believed in giving me access to the future. And that access changed everything.
Today, I still carry that builder's spirit. Whether it's the C64 Arcade (my nostalgic homage to those early gaming days), HostsAndPros (a property management platform), Breaking Par (golf analytics), or NAXP CLI (agentic coding workflows), I never stopped creating. Because at heart, I'm still that kid typing LOAD "*",8,1 and exploring what's possible.
Making Security Joyful: The Culture Creator
Here's the thing about cybersecurity: it doesn't have to be soul-crushing. Too often, security is seen as the department of "no"—the team that slows things down, complicates processes, and turns work into a series of compliance checkboxes.
I believe security can be different. It can be about passion, collaboration, inclusion, and joy at work. It can be about empowering people rather than restricting them.
That's why I use Star Wars metaphors in my writing. Complex cybersecurity concepts become more accessible when we talk about Clone Wars and AI-driven battle droids. Technical frameworks become memorable when they're framed as epic stories of good versus evil.
My leadership philosophy is built around helping people discover and leverage their superpowers. Every team member has unique strengths—my job is to help them identify those abilities and channel them toward our mission. I structure teams around expertise pyramids where subject matter experts train others, eventually creating central leaders who can guide the next generation.
Security shouldn't be about fear. It should be about enabling innovation, protecting what matters, and building systems that let people do their best work with confidence.
One Conversation at a Time: The Connector
The most transformative moments in my career haven't happened in boardrooms or conference halls—they've happened in conversations. One-on-one discussions where someone shares a challenge, we explore solutions together, and suddenly a path forward becomes clear.
Whether I'm advising a startup founder on their security program, mentoring an emerging CISO, or conducting tabletop exercises with teams, it always comes back to dialogue. The right conversation at the right time can change everything.
Through my work with SVCI, I invest in startups not just with capital, but with time and guidance. I've helped companies prepare for acquisitions, not through PowerPoint presentations, but through deep conversations about what truly matters for their security posture.
This philosophy extends to everything I do. My podcast appearances, conference talks, and blog posts aren't about showcasing expertise—they're about starting conversations that help others solve real problems.
The Mission: Empowering Today's Visionaries
Every thread of my story connects to the same mission: empowering today's entrepreneurs and professionals to build the groundbreaking solutions of tomorrow.
As CISO at Netlify, I support growth goals of $100M ARR and 10M developers by making security an enabler, not a barrier. I achieve compliance (SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO 27018, PCI-DSS) while fostering innovation. I build detection and response capabilities while maintaining the joy of creation.
Through my advisory work, I help founders navigate the complex intersection of security, compliance, and growth. Through mentoring, I help emerging leaders find their voice and their path forward.
And through my writing—whether it's the AI Clone Wars series or reflections on my Commodore 64 origins—I try to make complex topics accessible, memorable, and actionable.
Looking Forward: Building the Future Together
That vision I first glimpsed as a 9-year-old—a world where technology is accessible, empowering, and filled with possibility—is one I still hold dear today. Every conversation, every advisory engagement, every piece of content I create is in service of that vision.
I believe the future belongs to those who can bridge technical excellence with human connection, who can make security joyful rather than burdensome, and who understand that the most powerful tool we have is still the simple act of meaningful conversation.
The kid who encrypted secrets on his Commodore 64 grew up to protect enterprises. But at the core, it's still about the same thing: using technology to create something better, something more secure, something that empowers rather than intimidates.
And most importantly—thank you to my parents, who made it possible for me to rise from the masses and learn from all of life's classes.
Ready for a Conversation?
Whether you're building the next great startup, scaling a security program, or just starting your journey in technology leadership, I'd love to connect.