Just about six months ago, I finished hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. 2,650 miles from the Mexican border to Canada. It was one of the hardest and most rewarding things I have ever done, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

And I’m starting to miss working. I miss the feeling of talking with a team that’s wrestling with a hard problem and helping them find a way through it. I miss the conversations and the debates. I like how it feels when a team aligns and figures out what to do - the moments when things click and shit gets done.

At Unity, I used to hold regular all-hands with my entire organization, several hundred people spread across the globe. These meetings were hardly ever about metrics or status - they were opportunities to discuss the unknown or ambiguous in a safe space. I was proud that we had built a team that would push back on me openly, disagree respectfully, and trust that the conversation was safe. That kind of culture takes intentional work, and it’s the kind of work I love most.

I spent 22 years at Microsoft, 7 years leading engineering organizations at Unity Technologies, and 2 years building Engineering Experience at NBC Universal. Across all of it, the through line has been the same: helping organizations understand why work sometimes feels harder than it should, and building the systems, platforms, and cultures that make it easier and more engaging. I am good at helping people around me do their best work.

I’ve been poking around looking for my next role, but I feel like it’s time to step up my game. I’m still being selective, but I’m now actively looking for my next full-time leadership role. VP, SVP, or Senior Director, focused on platforms, developer experience, or with teams that want to get better at delivery without burning anyone out. Remote, Seattle-based, or relocation are all on the table.

I am also available for consulting, fractional, and coaching engagements. If your organization is wrestling with developer productivity, strategy, engineering effectiveness, or how to build a culture where quality is a system property rather than someone’s job title, I would genuinely love to talk. Short term or long term, I’m open to both.

If you have an opportunity, or know someone who might, I would appreciate you sharing this or sending them my way.

Back to my usual posts next week.

-Spy