FOUNDATIONS
Truth
Love Ayn Rand’s novels, especially her protagonists— upright characters who carry their own moral compass.
“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing
There is a field
I’ll meet you there.”
This has always been my north star.
I’d earned the title ‘nebir’ from the playground’s authorities — Amharic for ‘rebel’, more literally ‘tiger.’
Don’t mind being a rebel with a cause.
What matters most to me is the pursuit of Truth.
Following what’s true even when no one agrees is the only path I know that has led to the best times, aha moments and connections.
Strong opinions held loosely.
Otherwise, what’s the point?
“The moment one definitely commits , then Providence moves too. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”
All in
People come to me when they want to get sh*t done.
I was class president and in the leadership team of the groups I was a part of. I was responsible for making everything from the school dance to city conferences happen.
If I’m here, I’m all in.
Otherwise, there’s no point in being here.
“Every day in every way, I’m getting better, and better”
Evolving
I’ve done many jobs. My first job was in a hospital, organizing medicine inventory and cutting gauze in emergency rooms.
My inclination has always been to act without delay, always better today than yesterday.
I find inspiration in Zaha Hadid’s buildings, Ray Kurzweil’s worlds, and the view of The Shed from the High Line.
The spark that creates bold architecture and sci fi worlds — something at the edge of advanced tech and beautiful — is, for me, the same spark that drives the desire to make systems faster, stronger, more beautiful and just better day by day.
The Muse in Challenges
In 8th grade, I was studying 12th grade maths.
Any challenge that I’ve chosen to engage with or that has shown up as a guest has only ever been a steppingstone to a new breakthrough.
I see hard problems as a sort of muse for creating new beautiful things.
“No one ever said - Things are perfect. Lets invent fire.”