The first set of questions are focused on me:

• What are some honest, unfiltered things about you?
  • My energy typically comes in huge spurts.
  • I have a tendency to start or plan lots of independent projects that I don't see all the way through.
  • The more I love and admire the people I work with, the harder I'll work with and for them.
  • I tend not to hold back when I have conviction in an idea and am stubborn, which can create unnecessary conflict in teams I'm on. I'm working on this.
  • I sometimes come off as brusque or overly direct when I'm trying to get to the point of a discussion.
  • I love my teammates and genuinely care for their health and happiness (personal and professional).
  • I prioritize the core tech/idea/mission of what I work on way above the frills, and am laser-focused on letting the things I create speak for themselves.
  • I have little difficulty working on both the big picture and the small details when I'm passionate about a project.
  • I have grown profoundly over the last four years (college). I'm very proud of myself for this growth, large parts of which have been around my relationships with masculinity and empathy.
  • I have a burning desire to be both great and good.
  • I love guiding people through decision-making processes and thinking together.
  • I am a builder. Of communities, products, organizations, relationships, and love.
  • I believe in the power of people, and in technology as a tool to amplify and distribute that power.
• What drives you nuts?
  • Busywork— being told to doing work without knowing the context in which the work is important, or when I'm not allowed to do the work in a way I think would be much better.
  • Unwillingness to do some research/thinking on one's own before asking others for help.
  • Lack of empathy— people not being able or willing to step into someone else's shoes, even for the sake of argument.
  • Trying to 'slip something past' someone, like a low-effort product obscured by fancy marketing and dark patterns.
  • Emails/messages that should be meetings
    • (note: this is the other way around from what most people say! I think there are important things that are best dealt with with voice/video/in person to get context and nuance across)
  • Ending a meeting without defining what's next.
  • Over-optimization— not thinking about whether things are 'good enough', or spending team time on relatively inconsequential details.
• What are your quirks?
  • I'm intensely musical— when working independently (if the space allows!), I hum, whistle, tap, and sing a lot, regardless of whether I have headphones in.
  • Cereal is an all-purpose fuel for me, any time of day or night.
  • I'll ask a lot of questions if you let me!
• How can people earn an extra gold star with you?
  • Come to me with hard questions about the work you're doing and/or how you feel about it- we'll think through it together.
  • Teach me about the things you learn about, or things you find cool! Spontaneous discussions about products, companies, or ideas definitely make an impact.
  • Clear, searchable, written documentation of progress and expectations. (The Stripe API is my dream colleague)
  • Come to meetings prepared and excited.
• What qualities do you particularly value in people who work with you?
  • Grit
  • Strong values
  • Ambition
  • Levity
  • Willingness to speak up for what they believe in