My Story

I was born and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, the youngest of six children (yes, you read that right—six!). Growing up as the baby of the family meant hand-me-downs, plenty of sibling chaos, and a crash course in patience and negotiation skills. Five of us were girls, so my father deserves a special shoutout for surviving in a house full of strong-willed women!

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A Family of Dreamers and Doers

My maternal grandmother immigrated from Poland at 16 with nothing but grit and determination. She and my grandfather built a life in upstate Pennsylvania, raising four children. My mom was brilliant, fiercely independent, and ahead of her time—educated and ambitious in an era when that wasn’t the norm for women. She also happened to be stunning, which my dad noticed right away.

My father, originally from Chicago, ended up in Pennsylvania when his own father was transferred to the Fairless Hills steel mill. That’s where fate (or persistence) played its part—my dad confidently told my mom he was going to marry her, and she laughed in his face. Well, we all know how that story ends!

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My parents weren’t just life partners; they were business partners too. They built a great life for us through hard work, entrepreneurial spirit, and a deep respect for every dollar earned. Growing up in that environment, I learned the value of hard work, independence, and knowing when to laugh at life’s curveballs. To this day, I hate shopping, and I didn’t own a brand-new coat until I was 16—hand-me-downs were practically a family tradition!

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From Curious Kid to Tech Enthusiast

I’ve always had a love for technology, problem-solving, and building things. Our first computer was a Mattel Aquarius, and I was instantly hooked. I also loved playing with electricity (probably not the safest hobby), taking things apart, and figuring out how they worked.

One of my most infamous childhood experiments? Wiring a battery and a light bulb to my braces—because why not? My mom was quietly impressed by my ingenuity. My dad? Not so much—especially when I knocked off on of my braces in the process. That little adventure may not have gone as planned, but it solidified something I already knew: I loved experimenting, learning, and pushing the boundaries of what was possible.

So, when it came time for college, engineering was the obvious choice.

I chose Drexel University in Philadelphia for its co-op program and city lifestyle, kicking off my journey as an Electrical Engineering major. Let’s just say, Calculus III had other plans for me. After an intense battle with integrals, I made the switch to Information Science and Technology—a decision that perfectly blended my love for tech and problem-solving.

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Launching a Career in Tech

Through Drexel’s co-op program, I had three amazing work experiences in the City of Brotherly Love, giving me a taste of real-world tech jobs before even graduating. That hands-on learning was invaluable and ultimately led to my first job as a Junior Database Administrator at Willis Towers Watson. From there, I dove into software engineering, leadership, and digital transformation, eventually finding my true passion—building and leading high-performing engineering teams that drive innovation.

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Who I Am Today

Now, with over 20 years in the industry and 15 software engineering leadership, I’ve led teams through cloud transformations, Agile adoption, and large-scale software modernization projects. But at the core of it all, I’m still the same curious, problem-solving kid who loves tech, learning, and finding creative ways to improve things.

I created Mother of All Geeks as a space to share my insights on technology, leadership, and creativity—because being a geek isn’t just about code, it’s about curiosity, innovation, and having fun along the way.

So, whether I’m architecting enterprise solutions or tackling my next big idea, one thing’s for sure—I’ll always be engineering, creating, and leading with passion.