Speedcubing: Pattern Recognition Under Pressure
I've been solving Rubik's cubes in under 60 seconds for years. It's not about memorizing algorithms—it's about recognizing patterns instantly and executing the optimal sequence without hesitation.
How This Shows Up at Work
- Pattern Recognition: I score 97-99th percentile in pattern recognition, which translates directly to spotting broken processes, identifying data anomalies, and seeing opportunities others miss.
- Mental Models: Just like cube algorithms, I build mental models for complex systems—understanding how changing one variable cascades through the entire structure.
- Speed Under Pressure: Speedcubing trains your brain to make optimal decisions quickly. In operations, that means compressing timelines without sacrificing quality.
Rock Climbing: Solving Problems You Can't Brute-Force
I climb 5.12a routes, which requires more than strength—it demands problem-solving, persistence, and the ability to read sequences several moves ahead. You can't muscle through a 5.12; you have to find the efficient path.
How This Shows Up at Work
- Beta Reading: In climbing, "beta" is the sequence of moves to complete a route. At work, I read the "beta" of complex projects—mapping the critical path before execution.
- Failure as Feedback: You fall constantly in climbing. Each fall teaches you what doesn't work. I approach failed experiments and stuck deals the same way: as data, not defeat.
- Efficiency Over Force: Climbing teaches you to find leverage points rather than brute-forcing solutions. The same applies to operations—identify the 20% of effort that drives 80% of results.
- Persistence: Some routes take dozens of attempts to send. Some deals take months to close. Climbing trains you to keep showing up.
Event Production: Creativity Under Extreme Constraints
I've built emergent art installations and experiences for private clients, ticketed events, and open-access gatherings—including installations at Burning Man and City of Gods. This work combines project management, creative problem-solving, and execution under brutal constraints (weather, budget, time, regulations).
How This Shows Up at Work
- Project Management: Coordinating artists, fabricators, permits, logistics, and budgets for a Burning Man installation is no different from coordinating cross-functional teams for a product launch. Same skills, different context.
- Resource Constraints: You never have enough time, money, or help for ambitious art projects. I've learned to be ruthlessly creative with limited resources—skill that transfers directly to startup operations.
- Risk Mitigation: When you're building a 15-foot structure in the desert that needs to withstand wind and hundreds of people, you learn to think through failure modes obsessively. Same mindset I bring to process design.
- Stakeholder Management: Balancing the vision of artists, the requirements of event organizers, and the safety of participants is excellent training for balancing competing stakeholder needs in business.
Local Literacy Project: Building a Lean Nonprofit from Scratch
I founded a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides resources to schools in rural Afghanistan. We won 3rd place in the Anthem Awards "Small Nonprofit of the Year" (2024) by running as the leanest possible organization: 100% of donations go directly to schools, with board members covering all admin costs.
How This Shows Up at Work
- Systems Design: I designed the nonprofit's structure, governance, and operations from scratch—similar to building operational frameworks for startups. Both require thinking through edge cases and scaling constraints upfront.
- Efficiency Obsession: Eliminating all overhead wasn't just a nice-to-have—it was the entire value proposition. I bring that same ruthless efficiency mindset to operations roles.
- Stakeholder Management: Coordinating donors, board members, on-the-ground partners, and beneficiaries requires clear communication, rigorous reporting, and trust-building—skills that transfer to any cross-functional role.
- Long-term Thinking: Building a nonprofit that can operate for decades requires sustainable processes, not heroic one-time efforts. Same with building repeatable business systems.
Czech Language: Cultural Fluency & Global Perspective
I'm fluent in Czech (my family is Czech), which gives me dual US/EU citizenship and a cross-cultural perspective. Speaking a second language isn't just about words—it's about understanding different ways of thinking and communicating.
How This Shows Up at Work
- Global Perspective: Growing up between two cultures teaches you that there are multiple valid ways to solve the same problem. That mindset is valuable in any global or cross-functional team.
- Communication Nuance: Learning a second language trains you to pay attention to context, tone, and unspoken assumptions—skills that make you better at stakeholder management and cross-team collaboration.
- Adaptability: Switching between languages (and cultures) builds cognitive flexibility. I apply that same adaptability when switching between different business contexts or stakeholder groups.
Full-Stack Coding: Technical Fluency & Rapid Learning
I completed a full-stack coding bootcamp in 2020, gaining working proficiency in React (front-end) and Node.js (back-end). While I don't code professionally, the experience fundamentally changed how I work with engineers and approach technical problems.
How This Shows Up at Work
- Speak Engineer: I can read code, understand technical tradeoffs, and communicate with engineering teams without needing constant translation. This makes me a better bridge between technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Realistic Scoping: Understanding how software is built helps me scope projects realistically—I know what's a 2-hour fix vs. a 2-week rebuild. That prevents overpromising and underdelivering.
- Rapid Learning: Going from zero coding knowledge to building full-stack applications in months taught me that I can learn complex, technical skills quickly when needed. I apply that same "learn as you go" mindset to new industries and domains.
- Systems Architecture: Coding teaches you to think in systems—how components interact, where dependencies live, what breaks when you change something. That's valuable in any operations or strategy role.
Molecular Gastronomy: Controlled Experimentation
I occasionally experiment with molecular gastronomy—using chemistry and physics to transform ingredients in unexpected ways. Spherification, emulsification, sous vide precision—it's cooking as controlled experimentation.
How This Shows Up at Work
- Experimental Rigor: Molecular gastronomy teaches you to control variables, document processes, and iterate based on results. That's exactly how I approach A/B testing and experiment design at work.
- Precision Matters: In sous vide cooking, 2 degrees Celsius changes the entire outcome. In operations, small process tweaks can have outsized impact. Both require attention to detail.
- Creativity Within Constraints: Chemistry limits what's possible, but within those constraints, creativity flourishes. Same with business—understanding the rules lets you bend them creatively.