You're receiving this because we know each other personally or previously worked together, and I value our relationship. I'll send these out a few times a year to keep you updated on my comings and goings. You won't hurt my feelings if you don't read or unsubscribe.

Hey folks - it's been a while. Let's jump right into it. I apologize in advance for any weird formatting, I'm using a new platform since TinyLetter shut down!

Professional

There is not a ton new in this category—continuing to help build and train Best Egg's Product Management Organization. The key takeaway here is that people are complex. As an engineer, you have a chance of Googling your way to a solution as a last resort. How do you debug an organization?

Leading a company through a product model transformation is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. It's not just about org charts and titles; it's about shifting culture and incentives and raising the bar for performance. If you want to learn more about what I'm up to in this area, I highly recommend picking up "Transformed" by Marty Cagan.

In August, I'll attend the Engineering Leadership Conference. A couple of years ago, I gave a presentation for their Spring summit. I'm looking forward to attending the in-person version of this event. In September, I'll be headed to London to attend the SPVG Product Masterclass to shore up my product leadership skills and connect with others who have led organizations through similar transformations.

Personal

Summertime is upon us, and so is the beginning of the outdoor track season. Because of his late birthday, Judah is now running up against kids slightly older than him, which means he must work even harder to keep his current standing. He's a competitive kid and up for the challenge!

Andrea and I celebrated my 40th Birthday in Cancun earlier this year and had a blast. Most of the time, we laid in the sun, but we made sure to make time for swimming in cenotes, ATV off-roading, and zip-lining.

Last year, I hosted a "Dinner with Strangers" event, which went well. I initially thought I'd do it once a quarter, but it's more special if held less frequently, so I've decided to make it an annual event. The rules are that everyone at dinner knows me but is a stranger to everyone else. The whole idea is if you trust me, you'll get to meet cool and interesting people. I'm hoping to have the next one in the fall! There's only room for six to eight people, so if you're interested, and are in the DC area (or willing to come) please let me know ASAP. I may bump it to twice a year if there's high demand.

Here are some recommendations:

• "Superintelligence" by Nick Bostrom is highly relevant (and scary) right now, given the AI boom.
• "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" is fantastic!
• IF UFOs are real, panspermia siblings is the most plausible explanation I've ever heard for their presence.

That's all for now. Like always, if you want to chat with me, grab a slot on my calendar. Let me know if you'd prefer to meet in person - happy to get together. Take care! 🤙🏾