
AI is analyzing your overall score…
Identifying your key strengths…
Evaluating your skill match against the job requirements…
Assessing your cultural and operational fit
Technology Executive & Board Advisor | AI/ML Platform Scale | Ex-EVP Engineering @ Forto | Ex-Product & Engineering Leader @ Workday | Optimizing Engineering Value Throughput (Zero to Exit)
Scale changes everything, except the fundamental need to deliver value. After three decades of leading technical teams from early-stage AI startups to NASDAQ-scale enterprises like Workday and high-growth unicorns like Forto, I've seen the same architectural and organizational patterns repeat themselves. I’ve learned that the most complex challenges in software development are rarely just technical; they are structural and cultural. My focus is on optimizing value throughput. I do this by aligning strong, healthy teams around strategic business goals and translating that into scalable code. Having held dual executive roles across both Software Engineering and Product Management, I help leadership teams bridge the gap between product discovery and technical execution. My track record spans the full company lifecycle: navigating AI startups from Zero to Exit, managing complex post-merger technical integrations, and scaling engineering organizations through periods of intense hyper-growth without breaking the culture that made them successful. Today, I act as an independent advisor, interim leader, and investment partner. I split my time between technical due diligence for VC firms (like AENU and SET) and providing hands-on strategic oversight to executive teams scaling AI-first platforms (like Parloa and Tekkr). Core Focus Areas: Engineering Throughput & Org Design: Aligning team structures, communication and feedback loops, and deployment pipelines to accelerate delivery. Enterprise AI/ML Scalability: Designing strategies and architectures that survive real-world scale and load. M&A Advisory & Due Diligence: Evaluating technical viability, structural debt, and scalability risks.
UC San Diego
ABD, Cognitive Science
January 1, 1994 – January 1, 1997
AENU
Venture Advisor
July 1, 2024 – Present
Berlin, Germany · Remote
Tekkr
Senior Technical Advisor
May 1, 2024 – Present
Berlin, Germany · Hybrid
Parloa
Senior Technical Advisor
May 1, 2024 – Present
Berlin, Germany · Hybrid
Forto
Executive Vice President Engineering
February 1, 2021 – February 1, 2022
Forto
Sr. Vice President Engineering
December 1, 2019 – February 1, 2021
SV Consulting
Founder and Principal
December 1, 2017 – December 1, 2019
Berlin, Germany; Buenos Aires, Argentina and San Francisco, USA · Hybrid
Workday
Sr. Director, Software Engineering: Machine Learning and Search
May 1, 2016 – September 1, 2017
San Francisco Bay Area
Layer
Advisor
January 1, 2016 – January 1, 2016
Workday
Director, Product Management: Predictive Analytics and Search
March 1, 2014 – May 1, 2016
San Francisco Bay Area
Identified
SVP Operations
September 1, 2013 – March 1, 2014
San Francisco Bay Area
Identified
VP of Engineering
November 1, 2012 – March 1, 2014
San Francisco Bay Area
Identified
Director of Engineering
May 1, 2012 – November 1, 2012
San Francisco Bay Area
Mindjet
Director of Technical Services
June 1, 2011 – June 1, 2012
Mindjet
Senior Manager, Professional Services
May 1, 2009 – May 1, 2011
Mindjet
Senior Training Manager
June 1, 2008 – May 1, 2010
Mindjet
Manager Marketing Operations
January 1, 2008 – June 1, 2008
Mindjet
Data Architect, Marketing
September 1, 2006 – January 1, 2008
The Valiant Group
Senior Consultant
January 1, 2005 – January 1, 2007
San Francisco Bay Area
LawLink
Co-Founder
January 1, 2002 – January 1, 2005
San Francisco Bay Area
Educational Dynamics
Management Consultant
January 1, 2000 – January 1, 2002
San Francisco Bay Area
Do it yourself health
May 1, 2012 – July 1, 2012
An online healing community for women with IBS and chronic digestive conditions.
Cultural Fit Analysis
The candidate's career trajectory shows a strong inclination towards leadership, innovation, and problem-solving, particularly in the AI/ML space. Their involvement with various companies, from startups (LawLink, Identified) to large enterprises (Workday, Forto), and advisory roles in climate tech (AENU) and AI (Parloa, Tekkr), suggests adaptability and a diverse professional interest. The 'Do it yourself health' project, while personal, indicates an entrepreneurial spirit. The long tenure at Mindjet in various roles also shows commitment and growth within an organization. The overall profile suggests a fit for dynamic, growth-oriented environments that value strategic technical leadership and AI innovation.
Soft Skills & Operational Fit
The candidate's extensive experience in leadership, team development, and client-facing roles (e.g., Director of Technical Services, Professional Services) suggests strong soft skills in communication, mentorship, and strategic planning. Their history of reorganizing functions and improving metrics (e.g., response times, CSAT scores) indicates a results-oriented and operationally effective approach. The transition from technical to management and advisory roles, including P&L responsibilities, points to a broad operational fit.