Archive for the ‘ My Experience ’ Category

Trauma Doesn’t Need to Lead to Drama

I got hit by a van. It happened two days ago as I was walking across a very short crosswalk on Kingsway road in London moments after I left a cafe after having bought a cup of tea. I actually didn’t even realize what had happened to me until I had been knocked [ READ MORE ]

If you want a free lunch, make it yourself!

In second grade I used to eat with all my friends.  We had a ritual of showing off what we had and trading items.  All through elementary school I thought my dad was the smartest guy in the world, and just knew anything and everything.  My mom was the one who usually packed my lunch, [ READ MORE ]

Productivity == Happiness … for me

In kindergarten I was the kid that got sent home because I couldn’t take naps.  Growing up I’d always be doing something: reading, writing short stories, riding my bike, or coming up with clever  ways to shirk doing Kumon math…  I was the only child for 6 years and had immigrant parents who worked a [ READ MORE ]

A Founder’s Life

On the first day of second grade, I woke up, packed my lunch, got on my bike, and went to school.  I started this trend in second grade, and I’m still doing it.  To this day, how I grew up is a mystery for my dad, and at dinner parties he’ll mention that since the [ READ MORE ]

Another Year Older & Still Pushing Tin

I turned 28 on September 3rd this year.  To treat myself I went to Paris alone.  Yes I asked friends and family if they were interested in coming, but after a while rejection gets tiresome and its easier to plan for one.  Most people including Parisians thought it was strange that I would spend my [ READ MORE ]

Why aren’t there more tech women?

I usually don’t like to debate issues of gender or race, but the with the tech community buzzing about the dearth of women entrepreneurs and women in tech I decided it was time to throw in my two cents, after all I am a femgineer.  I think the community overall is conflating two issues into one: [ READ MORE ]

Fundraising and Feedback

Dave McClure’s recent post on investing before product/market fit inspired me to address a few observations I’ve made as an entrepreneur when pitching to investors (angels and VCs), crafting my product proposal, and explaining the vision of my current startup. Risk and Rejection As a first time entrepreneur I understand that I’m seen as a huge risk, [ READ MORE ]

Retaining Startup Engineers

In my previous post I focused on the key issues to think about when recruiting a startup engineer.  In this post I’d like to shift focus on how to keep them. Engineers jump ship early for various reasons, its usually a combination of the following three: instability in management, unclear path to an exit, and work that [ READ MORE ]

Recruiting Startup Engineers

With the startup market taking off, there is always a clamor to find good engineers, developers, and designers.  People constantly ask if I know people, where to find the so-called ’startup-engineers’, or even where the can find someone like me. Here are some things to think about for those on the recruiting side: 1. When to start [ READ MORE ]

From Duke to Mint: The Blue She-Devil and Successful Startup

Podcast of my talk to the Master of Engineering Management students in January 2010 is available on iTunes. Tweet This Post[ READ MORE ]