About Me

I'm a hands-on engineering leader who loves building products. With 20+ years from software engineer to executive, I combine deep technical expertise with strategic leadership—and I still code, architect, and ship.

Whether it's launching tvOS apps, building investment platforms, or leveraging AI to accelerate development, I thrive at the intersection of technical innovation and team building. The best products emerge when technical leaders stay close to the code and the people who write it.

Leadership Philosophy

I believe that everyone is born with different strengths, meant to complement and serve those who don't have them. Strengths aren't mere tools of dominance or profit—they're the glue that binds those with differences together into complete units. We're only whole when we come together.

This philosophy shapes every aspect of my leadership. I've never been one to chase recognition or power. Instead, I accept leadership roles when they allow me to influence the changes essential for a project's success or a team's well-being. True leadership isn't about seeking the limelight—it's about becoming a natural complement to your team, filling gaps, and building the culture that helps realize a shared mission.

Self-Awareness & Humility

As Socrates said, 'I know that I know nothing.' This humility in decision-making isn't weakness—it's strength. I've learned to acknowledge my limitations, seek help when necessary, and remain open to being questioned and challenged. The COO role requires steadfast resolve to learn from unexpected sources and to prioritize the success of the whole over one's ego.

Communication Foundation

At illuminarean, we implemented 'Open Floor'—dedicated time for team members to connect and share beyond work tasks. While it might seem inefficient to encourage non-work conversations during work hours, I see it as an investment in stronger collaboration. When communication falters, we resort to 'guesswork,' leading to misinterpretation and misdirection.

Beyond Credentials

When hiring, I look beyond résumés and degrees to find people's true potential. I evaluate resilience, integrity, empathy, and the blend of innate qualities with earned skills. I've made my share of hiring mistakes, but each taught me the importance of choosing people who align with our values of mutual respect and hard work.

Work-Life Balance

Time is our most valuable asset. The rich may have money, but the wealthy have time. At illuminarean, we implemented progressive workplace policies including Work From Anywhere because we recognize that our team members' time and well-being are fundamental, not just perks. True success incorporates both professional accomplishments and the freedom to enjoy life.

Global Perspective

Having worked extensively across the United States, South Korea, Singapore, Netherlands, and Australia, I bring a global perspective to engineering leadership. I've led teams across multiple time zones and cultures, learning to adapt leadership approaches while maintaining consistent values around respect, transparency, and growth.

Career Highlights

Hands-on tech leader: still designing, architecting, and shipping products after 20+ years

Built this website using Next.js, TypeScript, AI chatbot with RAG, and Google Calendar integration

Founded and scaled Solariant Capital's IT solutions division to 60+ professionals

Achieved 94% retention rate in highly competitive Seoul tech market

Designed and launched SmugMug's tvOS application (Swift, from prototype to production)

Led global development teams for mobile POS applications across three continents

Received Presidential Award for workplace culture excellence (2022)

Recognized for Work-Life Balance Excellence by South Korean Department of Labor (2024)

Developed crowd investment platforms for US and Japanese markets

Leveraging AI tools (GitHub Copilot, Claude, Gemini) to accelerate modern development

Education

University of California Los Angeles

BA in Economics with emphasis in accounting

1994-1996

Student Accounting Society (SAS)
Community Service Officer (CSO)

Boston University - Metropolitan College

MS in Computer Science (incomplete)

1996-1998

Completed coursework before shifting focus to hands-on industry experience

My Approach

I'm a builder at heart—passionate about creating products that solve real problems and teams that love their work. Whether it's architecting systems, writing code, leveraging AI to accelerate development, or mentoring engineers, I stay hands-on while providing strategic direction. Great products require both technical excellence and the right culture.

Let's Work Together

I'm interested in engineering leadership roles where I can leverage my experience building high-performing teams and driving technical innovation.

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