I get excited by companies where the founder is/ founders are ….

Thinking very differently about how to solve a problem, or how a market will evolve. I love opportunities that seem crazy at first, and founders who have the grit and perseverance to pursue them against the odds.

How did your family shape your views on work?

I grew up watching my father build his specialist construction business from near zero to one of the top 5 in the country. I worked for the company in the afternoons while I was in high school and learned so much about the value of hard work, integrity and relationships, and I was inspired by his ability to build a business that meant so much to so many. His entrepreneurial journey definitely set the stage for mine. I also learned I never wanted to go into construction!

My proudest moment as an entrepreneur was…

Closing a $17M deal with a major technology company. It changed the course of the business we were building and allowed us to give everyone raises when we were bootstrapping.

What industry are you most excited to see evolve and why?

I love the constant evolution of how we build and run software. It’s dynamic and we’re always pursuing better, simpler and faster ways to enable more people to build. The increase in developers around the world is staggering and will unlock so much global potential, especially in developing countries. The future is very bright.

People are often surprised to hear that I …

Lived in Seville, Spain for three years and traveled back regularly for a decade thereafter. It is my second home and a truly special city. Bring on the jamón ibérico and Ribera del Duero!

How do you view your role with portfolio companies?

I strive to be a founder’s most valuable ally, whether that’s helping them work through something tricky, making a key introduction, giving brutally honest feedback, asking the tough questions and just being there when they need to talk something through.

Best learning as a founder?

Focus on talent above virtually all else. When building out your leadership team, spend time with people who are truly world-class at their craft, even if they are not in a position to join your team. That will help you understand the caliber of person you should be aiming for, and you can use that to build out the profile of the right executive for your company. Everyone you hire should be better than you at whatever function they will be leading. Hiring top talent is one of the single most important things you must do as a founder.

The best part of my job is when….

When founders achieve an outcome they’ve been working on for so long - whether it is passing a key revenue milestone or an IPO. No matter how great your company, the founder journey is tough and takes incredible endurance and continuous personal growth. Achieving a key outcome makes it all feel worthwhile, and creating wealth for the team that helped you get there is indescribable.

What is your favorite part about working with portfolio companies/entrepreneurs?

I love being the person founders turn to when they could use extra support. Over the years, I’ve been in many tough spots as a founder and executive. It feels great to share my learnings and be there to empathize with the founder’s journey. It’s also incredible to be there to celebrate their successes along the way, too. My superpower is that I’m a great cheerleader - through good times and bad.

First concert you went to / band you saw live?

Kenny G with my parents when I was a kid. It was… not a fun thing for a kid to do. 2/10—would not recommend. The last several shows I’ve been to were all heavy metal, though I listen to virtually every type of music, from rap to Bocelli.

Meditation or yoga?

Peloton and Tonal. I have failed on multiple occasions to get into meditation or yoga. I gravitate towards high-energy workouts to manage stress.

Favorite Twitter handle?

@xplodingunicorn - as a parent, I can relate to the hilarity in his house!