Hi, I’m Allen!
I’m a software engineering executive and technology enthusiast based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Having worked for companies big and small, I’m most energized by the dynamic potential of startups, early in their journeys. I’m at my best helping scale teams while up-leveling the people that I work with.
With my wife and two kids, we enjoy the quiet serenity of reading, nearby national parks, and simple crafts. I get overly excited by new gadgetry, and nurture a bad habit of picking up new hobbies. Since 2011, this site has collected my regular, late-night musings.
AI De-Identity
Of all the use cases for AI, the one that feels the most dystopian, Black Mirror-esque is…
The Underwhelming State of Digital Family Calendars
I guess there’s real demand for easily visible family calendars. The NY Times recently…
Strategic Leniency
I recently came across an article discussing Riot Games’ anti-cheating division. All…
The Wearable Decade
For about two decades, the blistering pace of smartphone hardware improvements has driven…
Review: Ask Iwata
Ask Iwata is a fairly unique biography, as far as biographies go. Satoru Iwata was the…
A Dent on the Floor
When we moved into our current home, we prioritized replacing the floors with hardwood…
Review: The Ride of a Lifetime
I was recommended a few years back by a colleague to read through The Ride of a Lifetime.…
The Staff Meeting Ritual
Ah, the dreaded staff meeting. Chances are, if you work for a company of a certain size,…
Fueling Infrastructure
It’s a shame that hydrogen fuel cells didn’t work out for cars. On their face,…