Values

Last updated August 4, 2025.

The principles that guide my work, decisions, and approach to technology leadership.

Core Values

Human-Centered Technology

Technology should serve people, not the other way around. Every technical decision I make starts with the question: "How does this impact the humans using it?"

In practice:

• Accessibility-first design and development
• Privacy-respecting data practices
• Inclusive team cultures that value diverse perspectives
• User research and empathy-driven product decisions

Ethical Impact Over Growth

Sustainable, positive impact matters more than rapid growth or maximum profit. I believe technology can be a force for good when we prioritize ethics alongside innovation.

What this means:

• Choosing sustainable practices over quick wins
• Supporting organizations that align with social justice values
• Building technology that improves access to essential services
• Transparent business practices and honest communication

Open Source & Knowledge Sharing

Knowledge belongs to everyone. The best technology is built collaboratively, transparently, and with shared learning.

How I live this:

• Contributing to open source projects when possible
• Choosing open technologies over proprietary lock-in
• Teaching and mentoring others in the community
• Documenting processes and sharing lessons learned
• "Learning in public" through blog posts and discussions

Servant Leadership

The best leaders serve their teams, not the other way around. My job as a leader is to remove obstacles, provide context, and help others succeed.

Leadership principles:

• Leading by serving others, fostering growth, and enabling team success
• Creating psychological safety for experimentation and learning
• Empowering team members to make decisions and own their work
• Focusing on long-term team health over short-term metrics

Technology Philosophy

Privacy as a Human Right

Personal data is not a commodity. People should have control over their information and understand how it's being used.

Commitments:

• Minimize data collection to what's actually necessary
• Clear, honest privacy policies (no dark patterns)
• User control over their data and preferences
• Security practices that protect user information

Sustainability & Longevity

Build for the long term, not just the next quarter. This applies to code, teams, and business practices.

Sustainable practices:

• Writing maintainable, well-documented code
• Choosing technologies that will last
• Building team practices that prevent burnout
• Considering environmental impact of technical decisions

Accessibility is Not Optional

Technology should be usable by everyone, regardless of ability, device, or circumstance.

Non-negotiables:

• WCAG compliance as a minimum standard
• Progressive enhancement and graceful degradation
• Testing with assistive technologies
• Inclusive design from the start, not as an afterthought

See also: My AI usage policy

Social Impact Priorities

Digital Rights & Civil Liberties

Supporting organizations that protect our digital freedoms and fight against surveillance overreach.

Organizations I support:

• Electronic Frontier Foundation
• Mozilla Foundation
• Free Software Foundation

Education & Equal Access

Everyone deserves access to quality education and the tools needed to participate in our digital society.

How I contribute:

• Teaching and mentoring in the tech community
• Supporting educational institutions and libraries
• Building technology that improves access to services
• Advocating for digital literacy initiatives

Local Community & Small Business

Strong local communities create resilient societies. I prioritize supporting local businesses and community organizations.

Local-first approach:

• Shopping at independent bookstores and local businesses
• Supporting community organizations in Lafayette, CO
• Choosing local services over multinational corporations when possible
• Contributing to local tech meetups and educational programs

Professional Ethics

Transparent Communication

Honest, clear communication builds trust and creates better outcomes for everyone involved.

Communication standards:

• Clear expectations and regular check-ins
• Honest feedback, both positive and constructive
• Transparent about constraints, trade-offs, and decisions
• Admitting mistakes quickly and learning from them

Continuous Learning & Growth

The technology landscape changes constantly. Staying curious and committed to learning is essential for providing value.

Growth mindset:

• Regularly learning new technologies and methodologies
• Seeking feedback and acting on it
• Teaching others as a way to reinforce my own learning
• Staying humble about what I don't know

Work-Life Integration

Sustainable careers require balance. I believe in working hard on meaningful projects while maintaining personal well-being.

Boundaries and balance:

• Protecting family time and personal interests
• Encouraging team members to do the same
• Sustainable work practices that prevent burnout
• "Meaning and happiness are more important than growth" (Derek Sivers)

Decision-Making Framework

When facing difficult decisions, I ask myself:

1. Does this align with my values? If not, it's probably not the right choice.
2. Who benefits and who might be harmed? Consider all stakeholders, not just immediate interests.
3. What would I want someone else to do in this situation? Apply the golden rule to professional decisions.
4. Can I be proud of this decision in 5 years? Think beyond immediate outcomes.
5. Am I being honest with myself and others? Self-deception leads to poor choices.

Living These Values

In My Work

• Choosing employers and clients whose missions align with social good
• Advocating for ethical practices within organizations
• Building diverse, inclusive teams where people can do their best work
• Measuring success by impact, not just metrics

In My Personal Life

• Supporting organizations and businesses that reflect these values
• Raising children who understand technology's role in society
• Making purchasing decisions based on ethics, not just convenience
• Staying engaged with local community issues and needs

In the Tech Community

• Mentoring others, especially those from underrepresented groups
• Speaking up when I see harmful practices or discrimination
• Contributing to open source projects and knowledge sharing
• Supporting initiatives that make technology more accessible and ethical

Values in Action

These aren't just aspirational statements—they guide real decisions:

• Career choices: Working at mRelief because improving access to social services aligns with my values
• Technology decisions: Choosing Eleventy for this site because it's open source and creates fast, accessible websites
• Business practices: Transparent affiliate link policies and ethical approaches to monetization
• Daily work: Leading with empathy, fostering psychological safety, and prioritizing team well-being

Evolving Understanding

My values continue to evolve as I learn and grow. I try to:

• Listen more than I speak, especially to voices different from my own
• Question my assumptions and remain open to changing my mind
• Learn from mistakes without losing sight of core principles
• Stay curious about new perspectives and approaches

These values aren't perfect or complete—they're a work in progress, just like I am.

Want to discuss any of these ideas or share your own perspective? I'd love to hear from you. Get in touch.