1. What's your career story, and what keeps you passionate about tech?
I started programming a little while ago (CoBOL, C, C++, Java…), then progressed to various roles including Tech lead, Software Architect, and Software Design Authority. I've been in two startups, was financially naive and moved on from the first when I discovered I didn't really own any of the first company(!), then tried again and managed to survive the tech bubble bursting in 2000 without too much collateral damage. I took up a role as Principal Architect in a global company, and out of necessity spent a few years successfully developing the business and marketing before joining Allstate as a Solution Architect. At heart I'm an engineer that loves to solve problems — whether I'm building teams, strategies, or technology products I'll be engaged. Technology is highly engaging for me because it changes frequently and offers new ways to solve problems. Delivering solutions that keep the customer/consumer forefront is very rewarding.
2. How has the digital product model helped you grow your skill set?
It's enhanced my focus on delivering 'value' above 'output'. Value should be viewed through the eyes of the customer, so I've invested in understanding who my customer is. In a large global enterprise such as Allstate, it is easy to lose the concept of the customer, or fall into the trap thinking that the end user is the customer. Our Digital Product model has refocused our understanding of the customer, and differentiated it from the end user or premium paying customer. There are so many skills involved in not only understanding this but building a shared understanding across teams.
3. What's different about how teams operate in this model?
Our Digital Product model codifies a lot of concepts that are considered best practice but until now may have been inconsistently employed. Having the model well described, with the roles and expectations, helps us focus on what is important. Understanding where and how the value is delivered helps us focus on what each of our contributions is. Simply by understanding how the whole works, we can hone our skills in our own role. The clarity of the Digital Product model has brought a focus to what is important, and how in each of our roles we interface with others and what expectations are. We then use this to get better at delivering what we are responsible for.
4. What's one future tech trend you're excited to explore?
Currently fascinated with Agentic AI and exploring how it can be used, sensibly and safely. AI is on one of the largest hype cycles I've ever seen in a not-so-short career, and I'm constantly challenged to filter signal from noise on how and when it could/should be employed. Just because we can automate something doesn't mean we should. Automating an existing process may be the wrong thing to do. Agentic AI offers opportunities to build some autonomous software solutions instead of programmed (rules driven) solutions, and with that autonomy comes risk. We're building guardrails and governance for Agentic AI to protect Allstate from the risks that come with this fascinating technology, to allow us to leverage it safely and manage the risk.
