CEO OF TEDCO
From Southeast Houston to the boardrooms of the tech world, my journey has been anything but ordinary. Guided by a principle instilled in me by my mother, I’ve always believed that our primary purpose is to make a difference. This belief has not only shaped my personal interactions but has also fundamentally influenced my professional ethos.
In the tech industry, where the pace of innovation often outstrips our capacity for reflection, I’ve learned the importance of the “4Ss” – stitch, scale, story, and stickiness. These principles advocate for collaboration (stitch), amplifying our efforts (scale), using data to tell compelling stories (story), and ensuring our initiatives have a lasting impact (stickiness). This framework is not just about advancing technology but is a blueprint for nurturing environments where businesses and communities thrive together.
Through my time in Silicon Valley, interacting with venture capitalists and fellow entrepreneurs, I’ve absorbed two critical lessons: First, we should embrace the inevitability of losses but make our victories count profoundly. Second, always invest in first-rate people, even over a perfect plan – people drive plans, not the other way around.
As a blessed kid from a loving home, educated under the vigilant eyes of a community that believed in me, I’ve worn many hats: an engineer, a computer scientist, a consultant, an entrepreneur, and an executive. Each role taught me something invaluable about the power of persistence, the necessity of innovation, and the importance of equitable opportunities.
Today, my message to the world is one of relentless optimism and unwavering commitment to change. I firmly believe we are each placed on this planet to make an impact; we just don’t know when or how this will occur. Therefore, the imperative is clear: we should strive to make a difference in every life we touch. This isn’t just a guiding principle; it’s a call to action to drive meaningful and sustainable change.
In closing, I urge you to remember that diversity, equity, and innovation are not just buzzwords; they are essential pillars for a prosperous future. Let’s commit to being catalysts for change in our industries and communities and together, we can stitch a tapestry of progress that scales, tells a story, and sticks for years to come.
