About Me

I'm co-founder of LanguaTalk, an AI-powered language learning platform with human tutors and conversational AI, and a software engineering manager at Google. I'm passionate about building products that solve real problems and helping teams deliver impactful software.

My Journey

My path has been anything but linear. After graduating from Georgia Tech with a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, I started in management consulting at a Big 4 firm. While successful on paper, I felt unfulfilled pushing spreadsheets for large corporations.

Everything changed when my brother Darren and I built Body Boss, a fitness app. Those late nights teaching myself to code transformed my career trajectory. I pivoted from consultant to engineer, joining Big Nerd Ranch as a lead software engineer, then founding Kevy (successfully exited), before landing at Google.

In 2021, I co-founded LanguaTalk. What began as a tutoring marketplace has evolved into a comprehensive AI language learning platform. Our latest innovation, Langua, provides human-like conversations with AI tutors - helping learners practice naturally, just as children acquire language through immersion rather than rigid exercises.

Current Chapter

Today, I balance two exciting roles. At Google, I serve as a Software Engineering Manager where I combine my love for building products with developing people. The skills from my founder journey - understanding customer needs, making tough technical decisions, and building resilient teams - translate directly to helping engineers grow and ship products that impact millions.

With LanguaTalk, we've grown from a tutoring marketplace to a comprehensive AI language learning platform. We now offer both human tutors and Langua, our AI conversation partner that provides unlimited practice. It's incredibly fulfilling to build something that helps thousands of people break down language barriers and connect across cultures.

Community & Mentorship

Growing up in a working-class neighborhood outside Atlanta, I learned the importance of community from people like Dennis, my barber, who created a space where young Black men could see possibilities beyond their circumstances. That experience drives my passion for mentoring engineers and entrepreneurs, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds who might not see themselves reflected in tech leadership.

I've spoken at conferences and meetups about technical topics, but I'm equally passionate about the human side of technology - how we can build more inclusive teams and products that serve everyone.

Personal Life

I live in Atlanta with my amazing wife Katerina and our four wonderful children - Damian, Dahlia, Zoe, and Alexia. Katerina has been my partner through every entrepreneurial adventure, late-night coding session, and career pivot. Her support and wisdom have been instrumental in both our family's journey and my professional growth.

When I'm not building products or leading teams, you'll find me on the soccer field, learning new languages, or mentoring other engineers. Family time is sacred to us - whether it's weekend adventures around Atlanta or simply being present for the daily moments that matter.

What Drives Me

I'm motivated by the intersection of technology and human impact. Whether it's helping language learners connect across cultures through LanguaTalk and Langua, building tools that help businesses understand their customers better, or simply being present for my children as they navigate their own questions about identity and belonging in the world.

I believe in direct communication, learning from failure, and using whatever platform or privilege I have to make things a little better for the next person coming up behind me.