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Book: How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence
On Michael Pollan's book about psychedelics and consciousness, and why it resonated after recently losing both parents and becoming curious about dying and the mind.
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What's in my Bag in 2019
The 2019 edition of my annual bag inventory, tracking how the gadgets and everyday-carry items I travel with keep evolving.
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Book: Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
A recommendation of Robert Cialdini's book on the six universal principles of persuasion, and why every manager and leader should read it.
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5 Things: Personal Blogging, Plant-Based NBA, and Trust
Five more catch-up reads, on personal blogging, a surprise write-up of Reaction Commerce, plant-based diets in the NBA, discriminatory long hours in tech, and building trust as a leader.
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Book: My Year of Rest and Relaxation
A short take on Ottessa Moshfegh's novel about a year of drug-induced sleep, and why it made the perfect escape during a long travel day.
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Book: The Woman Who Smashed Codes
A review of Jason Fagone's The Woman Who Smashed Codes, the belated true story of a woman who helped invent modern cryptology and crack Nazi spy networks.
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Grace the Clydesdale
A quick note about outfitting my California beach dog with shoes for the snowy Colorado trails.
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Book: The End of Average
A look at Todd Rose's The End of Average and its case that effective leadership comes from developing individual strengths rather than measuring people against a standardized norm.
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Book: The Miniature Guide to The Art of Asking Essential Questions
A recommendation of Linda Elder and Richard Paul's guide to critical thinking, which sharpened my own approach to leading discussions and asking better questions.
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Grace in Telluride
A photo of my dog Grace among the aspen trees in Telluride, taken while learning to use a new Fuji X-Pro 2 camera.
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5 Things: Time, Photosets, and Museums
A Friday at Five roundup on our perception of time, new photosets, two documentaries I can't wait to see, and a visit to SFMOMA.
Photosets and Learning to Share Again
I trace how sharing photos went from film drop-offs with my dad to algorithm-chasing online, and why building a small photosets section (and the app behind it) is bringing back the joy of a plain old photowalk.
5 Things: Nonna Ramona, Naomi Osaka, and Alone
A Friday at Five roundup on Suleika Jaouad's Nonna Ramona, the OpenAI agent's Hugging Face breach, Naomi Osaka, The Invite, and Alone.
The Lies We Tell by Leaving Things Out
On the truths we leave unsaid, the fears behind them, and the small acts of openness that help trust deepen.
5 Things: AI, Adult Friendship, and Taylor Swift
A Friday at Five link roundup on Meta's AI ambitions, adult friendship, Taylor Swift, books, and remembering Dolly Parton.
I Still Read Books
Introducing a personal bookshelf of books that have shaped how I think about leadership, creativity, craft, and a well-lived life.
Season 1 of The Intentional Organization Podcast
Mathias and I are sharing conversations about leadership, building teams, and doing the everyday work of running organizations with intention.
New Look, 2026 Edition
Notes on a 2026 redesign of this personal blog, moving to 11ty and Cloudflare Workers, and a nod to blogging and the open web.
When to Hold and When to Fold
A coaching framework for founders deciding whether to pivot or hold steady — separating mission from approach, and turning gut calls into testable hypotheses.
On Failure and Leadership
A hiring mistake I made as a first-time CEO, and what Amy Edmondson's research on failure taught me about telling basic failures from intelligent ones.
"The Intentional Organization" is Now Available For Preorder
The Intentional Organization, the leadership book I co-wrote with Mathias Meyer, is now available for preorder — and the story of how it came to be.
Burnout
On coaching a burned-out founder and drawing from my own experience recovering from CEO burnout, including hiring help, delegating, and getting a coach.
Leadership Lessons From Adopting a Semi-feral Cat
Adopting a scared, semi-feral rescue cat named Raven taught lessons about patience, trust, and meeting someone where they are as a leader.
Strike a Power Pose
How leading a group power pose during a startup workshop instantly shifted the room's energy.
Dealing With Challenging Employees
A real, anonymized coaching session using the GROW framework to help a VP of Engineering address a disrespectful, challenging employee.
I’m a Coach for Slauson & Co.’s Friends & Family Accelerator
I became a coach for Slauson & Co.'s Friends & Family accelerator, a program supporting a strikingly diverse cohort of founders, and why it changed my mind about venture capital.
Hello world, please meet The Intentional Organization
Announcing The Intentional Organization, a book and consultancy I'm launching with my former business partner and CTO Mathias about building organizations around clarity, communication, and inclusivity.
Books for People Who Make Things
A curated reading list of books on product development, communication, leadership, design, and motivation for product builders and the teams they lead.
Making the White Bean and Roasted Vegetable Salad From the Heat Episode of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat
A recipe and prep notes for the white bean and roasted vegetable salad from the Heat episode of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat.
It's Tomato Season
A recipe for fresh tomato sauce made from a garden overflowing with tomatoes and basil.
On Origin Stories
The story of recruiting Mathias Meyer as Reaction Commerce's CTO after seeing his tweet, and how their partnership was built on intentional, personal connection.
Book: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
A reflection on Stephen King's On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, part memoir and part instruction manual for the tools of writing.
Book: Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up
A fan's take on Jerry Colonna's Reboot, tied to my own experience of intense introspection at one of his CEO Bootcamps.
How We Make Pizza
A detailed, opinionated recipe for grilled homemade pizza, covering the dough, tomato sauce, toppings, and grilling technique.
Berlin Golden Hour
A single golden-hour photo from a trip to Berlin.
Book: High Output Management
A recommendation of Andy Grove's High Output Management, a book I've reread many times and consider essential for managers and team members alike.
East Side Gallery in Berlin
Photos and reflections from visiting Berlin's East Side Gallery, connecting the murals on the Berlin Wall to my past work in public art.
What are we going to do about the U$A???
A short note on spotting graffiti in a Berlin restaurant asking what to do about the state of the U.S.
On Experiments
A quarterly experiment limiting phone time on email, Slack, and Twitter to 20 minutes a day, and the back-and-forth relationship with technology it reveals.
Book: The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness
A slow-growing appreciation for Sy Montgomery's The Soul of an Octopus, a book that turns out to be as much about consciousness as it is about octopuses.
Book: How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence
On Michael Pollan's book about psychedelics and consciousness, and why it resonated after recently losing both parents and becoming curious about dying and the mind.
What's in my Bag in 2019
The 2019 edition of my annual bag inventory, tracking how the gadgets and everyday-carry items I travel with keep evolving.
Book: Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
A recommendation of Robert Cialdini's book on the six universal principles of persuasion, and why every manager and leader should read it.
5 Things: Personal Blogging, Plant-Based NBA, and Trust
Five more catch-up reads, on personal blogging, a surprise write-up of Reaction Commerce, plant-based diets in the NBA, discriminatory long hours in tech, and building trust as a leader.
Book: My Year of Rest and Relaxation
A short take on Ottessa Moshfegh's novel about a year of drug-induced sleep, and why it made the perfect escape during a long travel day.
Book: The Woman Who Smashed Codes
A review of Jason Fagone's The Woman Who Smashed Codes, the belated true story of a woman who helped invent modern cryptology and crack Nazi spy networks.
Grace the Clydesdale
A quick note about outfitting my California beach dog with shoes for the snowy Colorado trails.
Book: The End of Average
A look at Todd Rose's The End of Average and its case that effective leadership comes from developing individual strengths rather than measuring people against a standardized norm.
Book: The Miniature Guide to The Art of Asking Essential Questions
A recommendation of Linda Elder and Richard Paul's guide to critical thinking, which sharpened my own approach to leading discussions and asking better questions.
Grace in Telluride
A photo of my dog Grace among the aspen trees in Telluride, taken while learning to use a new Fuji X-Pro 2 camera.
5 Things: Relationships, Netflix Culture, and Inclusive Hiring
Five vacation reading catch-up links, on the math of successful relationships, Netflix's decision-making culture, cloud computing trends, inclusive hiring, and Stacey Abrams.
Book: The Truths We Hold
Listening to Kamala Harris's audio memoir The Truths We Hold on a road trip to Telluride, and finding her story of beliefs, family, and justice inspiring.
Blogging to Exhale
Sharing a Nora Ephron quote about blogging as a kind of exhale, one that doesn't need to say much to be worth saying.
Inclusivity Evaluation
On taking personal responsibility for a lack of diversity at my company, and the concrete outreach steps I took to find and hire underrepresented talent.
On Unplugging
Notes on rolling out a new Vacation and Time Off Guide at Reaction Commerce, and why time away and outcomes over output matter for a healthy culture.
Book: I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer
A review of Michelle McNamara's true crime book about hunting the Golden State Killer, published posthumously and vindicated when the case was solved by DNA evidence.
Book: Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life
A recommendation of Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication, a book I've reread many times and consider essential for managers and leaders.
Book: The Best and the Brightest
A recommendation of David Halberstam's The Best and the Brightest, read as a study of leadership, pride, and groupthink as much as the Vietnam War.
Article: Bill Clinton: By the Book
A quick reaction to a New York Times interview about Bill Clinton's reading habits and where he likes to read.
RBG
A quick, enthusiastic recommendation to see the Ruth Bader Ginsburg documentary RBG.
5 Things: Remote Work, Holotropic Breathwork, and Feedback
A returning roundup of five saved reads, on remote work productivity, Adidas closing stores, holotropic breathwork, learning to relax, and building better feedback systems.
What Amazon's Six-Page Memos Made Me Rethink About Meetings
On Jeff Bezos's Amazon shareholder letter and trying its six-page memo format in a meeting to make discussions more efficient.
Defragging my Calendar
A calendar hack borrowed from Lara Hogan for grouping meetings by the type of mental energy they require, to cut down on draining context switching.
What's in my Bag in 2018
The 2018 edition of my annual bag inventory, listing the everyday-carry items I've pared down since last year.
A Few Small Steps
Ten small personal changes I've made, from shopping local and quitting Facebook to gardening and buying carbon offsets, in response to feeling overwhelmed by society's larger problems.
My Wander Exercise
A coach-suggested 'wander' exercise for processing a period of life by talking out loud to a chosen spot in nature.
My First Digital Sabbath
A weekend spent unplugged from phone, email, and computer for my first Digital Sabbath, inspired by Brad Feld, and what it felt like to disconnect.
On Walking 1:1s
A short case for walking one-on-one meetings, backed by research on how walking sharpens thinking.
I'm Hiring an Executive Assistant
A job posting for an Executive Assistant at Reaction Commerce, along with a reflection on how undervalued and essential that role really is.
Ikigai: A Reason for Being
Reflections on discovering the Japanese concept of ikigai, a reason for being, and the four questions it poses for finding purpose in life.
End of Summer
A Labor Day weekend spent running and swimming in Palm Springs, marking the end of summer and a difficult 2017.
5 Things: John McPhee, Google Management, and Kindness
Five reads pulled from a backlog of saved articles, on John McPhee's writing craft, Google's management tools, a satirical Onion piece, being nicer, and author Jim Harrison.
Taking my Seat in the Warrior's World
On a product launch, a move, my father's hospice care, and my mother's cancer scare all colliding at once, and what a Reboot CEO retreat taught me about facing it.
5 Things: Retail, VC Pitches, and Rare Books
A Memorial Day roundup of five reads, on retail competing with Amazon, pitching VCs, top CEO habits, the history of pink donut boxes, rare books, and a mayor's speech on Confederate monuments.
NYC Subway Infrastracture
A recommendation of an Atlantic article on the design, history, and technical debt of New York's aging subway infrastructure.
Please Star Reaction on GitHub
A direct appeal for readers to star Reaction Commerce on GitHub, explaining why open source, JavaScript, and a modern commerce platform matter.
Beginner's Mind
Reflecting on a New York Times essay about the joy of being bad at surfing, and connecting it to the Zen concept of beginner's mind, or Shoshin.
What’s in my Bag in 2017
The first installment of my annual ‘what’s in my bag’ tradition, cataloging the tech, travel, and everyday-carry items I keep with me.
Jeff Bezos's Annual Letter: Disagree and Commit
A quick recommendation of Jeff Bezos's annual shareholder letter and its 'disagree and commit' framework for decision making.
Wildflowers
A short note on taking a day off to hike among spectacular wildflowers in the Malibu hills.
Meet Reaction v1.0.0: Our General Availability Release!
Announcing Reaction Commerce's v1.0.0 general availability release, marking the end of its beta period.
5 Things: Open Source, Silicon Valley's Boys' Club, and Anxiety
Five reads on open source's business paradox, breaking up Silicon Valley's boys' club, running a business as a woman, anxiety and the outdoors, and a founder-focused executive coach.
5 Things: Black History, LA Architecture, and the Microbiome
Five weekly finds, on vandals ordered to read about Black history, LA's architecture, the microbiome, buying direct-to-consumer sneakers, and e-commerce platform trends.
Relax Something
A simple meditative technique borrowed from yoga: relaxing just one part of the body to ease tension during stressful moments.
Just Breathe
A simple habit of taking three deep breaths before every meeting to stay focused and centered through a packed day.
5 Things: Diversity Hiring, Serena Williams, and Ultramarathons
Five weekly reads, on Facebook's flawed diversity hiring process, an Audi Super Bowl ad, a personal interview about Reaction Commerce, Serena Williams, and an ultramarathon record.
Make America Love Again
A response to the 2017 immigration ban, and gratitude for colleagues and investors who pushed back through protest, donations, and votes.
5 Things: Women's March, Obama Letters, and Overwork
Reflections on attending the Women's March, plus five reads on the marches worldwide, letters to Obama, handling pessimistic coworkers, Hillary Clinton, and overwork in Japan.
Women's March
A short reflection on marching with hundreds of thousands of people at the 2017 Women's March in downtown LA.
5 Things: Sugar, Smartphone Attention, and Building Habits
Five weekly reads on sugar as an addictive drug, rethinking office space, reclaiming attention from smartphones, SpaceX's finances, and a psychologist's method for building habits.
On Reference Calls
A detailed approach to running reference calls for hires, covering the networking mindset, back channel references, question lists, and how to surface blind spots.
5 Things: Founder Burnout, Elevators, and the Right to Disconnect
Five reads from the week, on founders avoiding burnout, the history of Otis elevators, a 105-year-old cycling record, France's right-to-disconnect law, and deep learning at Gilt.
Things I Didn't Buy
On renaming my wish list to 'Things I Didn't Buy,' a small shift that made me more mindful about spending and more grateful for what I don't own.
5 Things: Shorter Workweeks, Costco Culture, and Stoicism
A New Year's roundup of five reads, on shorter workweeks, Nike's two hour marathon quest, a farmer building her own broadband, Costco's culture, and stoicism.
Happy New Year!
A New Year's reflection looking back on the turmoil of 2016 and forward with optimism, rituals, and renewed intentions for 2017.
Low Tide
A short ode to walking Venice Beach at low tide during the quiet winter off-season.
5 Things: Michelle Obama, Brian Eno, and AI
A holiday reflection on starting the weekly 5 Things series, followed by five reads on nature's resilience, Michelle Obama, Brian Eno's generative music, AI, and female doctors.
Bushnell's Law: Easy to Learn, Hard to Master
A short exploration of Bushnell's Law, the video game design principle that the best games are easy to learn and hard to master, and its connection to progressive disclosure.
5 Things: Running, Election Hacking, and UCLA Basketball
Five things from the week, including running as a mental puzzle, Russian election hacking, a resilient ancient microbe, UCLA basketball, and a bonus song discovered on the radio.
A New Routine: Daily Journaling
On starting a daily five-minute journaling habit, not to be productive or solve problems, but simply to get thoughts out of my head.
5 Things: Gaslighting, Love, and Cancer Immunotherapy
A weekly roundup of things that caught my attention, including a viral essay on Trump and gaslighting, a love story from the New Yorker, and a cancer immunotherapy breakthrough.
Long Live the Independent Web
Thoughts on the importance of an open, independent web, owning one's own content, and the IndieWeb's POSSE philosophy.
Some Thoughts on Loneliness
On feeling lonely as a startup CEO despite a strong support network, and the daily habits, from journaling to mentoring to time with my dog, that help me feel less alone.
The Chatham House Rule Applies
On discovering the Chatham House Rule at a founders event, and how anonymity in discussion encouraged more honest, open conversation.
Giving Thanks
A Thanksgiving reflection on processing the shock of the 2016 election and finding relief in gratitude, autumn, and time with loved ones.
This is Focus (Year Three Startup Thoughts)
Reflecting on Reaction Commerce's third year, with lessons on staying focused, building a diverse team, systemizing prioritization, and trusting my instincts.
They’d Just Build Their Own Solution
Pushing back on a VC's rejection that merchants would just build their own ecommerce platform at scale, and making the case for open source solutions like Reaction instead.
Open Source and Business
An argument for why open source and profitable business are not just compatible but a powerful partnership, drawing on Reaction Commerce's own model.
My Voice
A short, raw reflection on grappling with the aftermath of the 2016 election while trying to hold onto purpose and connection.
Go Vote
A short call to vote in the 2016 election, alongside a Hillary Clinton quote on fulfilling one's profession.
My Top Calendar Hacks
Calendar and productivity hacks, including goal-based time blocking and Google Calendar appointment slots, for taking back a packed schedule.
New Look, 2016 Edition
Notes on a 2016 redesign of this personal blog, moving to Ghost Pro and the Aspire theme, and a renewed commitment to writing.
On Slow Recruiting
On treating every coffee meeting as 'slow recruiting,' building relationships through curiosity and consistency rather than transactional networking.
This is Interesting (Year Two Startup Thoughts)
A year-two Reaction Commerce update on growth metrics, the challenges of fundraising as a female founder in my 40s, and building a vision-driven team.
On Public Speaking
The story of preparing for and delivering a Creative Mornings talk on collaboration, and what the nerve-wracking experience taught about why public speaking is rewarding.
On One-on-Ones
A detailed guide to running meaningful one-on-ones, covering consistency, active listening on video calls, note-taking, and building trust over time.
Playing Moneyball With a Lean Startup Budget
Drawing on Moneyball and NBA glue guy Shane Battier, I explore how a lean startup can find undervalued, unselfish hires instead of chasing superstars.
Welcome to Technollywood: How Funding a Startup is Like Producing a Movie
Comparing startup fundraising to pitching a movie in Hollywood, and drawing on Kathryn Bigelow's and Howard Schultz's early rejections for encouragement as a founder.
Positive Psychology at Work: Creating a Happy and Engaged Workforce
Drawing on Gallup workplace data and Shawn Achor's positive psychology research, I argue that hiring happy people and fostering a culture of happiness builds stronger, more engaged teams.
Part 2: Reaction Commerce: A Powerful Leap Forward for Ecommerce
Why existing ecommerce platforms are outdated, and how Reaction Commerce is using JavaScript, Meteor, and Node.js to build real-time merchandising and pricing without page reloads.
Part 1: Ecommerce is Heading Toward a Major Upheaval (and Reaction Commerce is Ready to Fill the Void)
A history of ecommerce and its platforms, arguing the industry is overdue for major upheaval that Reaction Commerce is positioned to fill.
Will Native Apps For Ecommerce Go the Way of the Dinosaur?
Arguing that native mobile apps for ecommerce will eventually give way to web apps, drawing on Meteor's new mobile tools, Steve Jobs's early web-app vision, and Facebook's HTML5 misstep.
Being the Boss vs. Working for the Boss Thoughts from the founding CEO of a 365-day-old startup
One year into founding my startup, weighing the emotional highs and lows of being the boss against the safety net and clarity of working for someone else, drawing on 20 years at companies like Yahoo and Etsy.
This is Fun: Thoughts on Positive Psychology From a Startup CEO
On discovering positive psychology's research on happiness and optimism, and why I believe hiring happy, optimistic people is the foundation of a good company.
This is Hard (Year One Startup Thoughts)
Six months into building Reaction Commerce, an honest look at how hard bootstrapping, remote teamwork, and being a first-time founder really are.
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