Personal Insights

Why did I choose my background picture?

I recently went to visit the Bell Works building in Holmdel, NJ, famous as being the location of the Lumen headquarters in the TV Series "Severance". It is a historical building that was originally a Bell Labs location, and it also happens to be where I started my career. I'm an amateur fan of historical architecture and I have many fond memories of walking on the cat walks in this massive building with expansive open spaces. This picture was taken from the ground floor in the center of the building, looking up at the cat walks and glass roof above.

What life experience best prepared you for executive responsibility?

Serving seven years as a volunteer firefighter during my early career helped shape my leadership philosophy, as much as any subsequent classroom or on the job experience did. On every call, we potentially confronted high-stakes uncertainty. Success demanded that we: Stay cool under pressure, sizing up the hazards before acting, deconstruct the overwhelming, and lead through trust and teamwork. As I encounter business problems, I often find an analogue from the past that helps, e.g. "Try before you pry".

Where do you most want to travel, but have never been?

I love to travel, and have been blessed to have been given the opportunity to visit so many places for both business and pleasure. Still there are so many places that I've yet to see and its hard to pick just one, but China probably tops my list. From the 5000 year history - with Terracotta soldiers and the Great Wall; mixed with modern technology - bullet trains and sleek architectures; culinary diversity; and amazing people. I've always thought of travel as my favorite classroom, and China seems to match the mix that I would most enjoy.

If you had no money, health, people or geographical limitations, what would an ideal average day in your life look like?

With no limits, each day would mix together my five passions: family, travel, technology, exercise, and human connection. I’d greet the day with a workout, then open my laptop to plot the next place where culture and impact meet. I’d stay close enough to catch my family’s victories in real time, while channeling my tech skills into projects that widen access to education, health, and clean resources. Wrapping the day up, I'd make sure to share the stories around the dinner table with the people I love.