I was seventeen years old when I first encountered the transcendent beauty of “In a Sentimental Mood,” recorded by jazz legends Duke Ellington and John Coltrane. Instantly, I was transported—not merely to a physical locale, but into an immersive emotional experience, coexisting in that eternal, musical moment alongside Duke and ‘Trane. At the time, I…

I spent nearly a decade in the coffee industry, working as a barista and a shift manager, a repair technician and managing service providers across the country. From each one of these stops along the way, one point was made abundantly clear: communication is essential. Whether it took the form of relationship building with customers, maintaining…

Transitioning from Coffee to a Security Career When I first started my career, I wasn’t thinking about firewalls, encryption, or malware. I was thinking about lattes, customer service, and how to make the perfect foam. My days were spent behind a counter at Starbucks, mastering the art of coffee-making and engaging with customers. Fast forward…