Solving Human Problems with Code

I am an anthropologist, which for those who don’t know, is a fancy title for a human scientist that studies all that humans have been, are, and will be. I am also a software engineer. For me, this means that I get to make things using code magic like Harry Potter. Until recently, these ends of my life didn’t get to meet that much. But that is all changing.

For some time I have been trying to figure out how I want these puzzle pieces of anthropology and software to fit together. I have documented the process of getting here and truly taken the time to figure out where I want to go next. When you are a person with so many interests, trying to narrow down and focus on one seems impossible. I started where I last left off, entrepreneurship.

Ever since my time at The Iron Yard, I have been inspired by startups and entrepreneurs. As a result, I started going to meetups and had a stint as an organizer for 1 Million Cups. I spent 9 months interning at Station Houston which was great for getting me back into that environment. I learned that being a maker is important to me, and entrepreneurship is another path to that.

I have also always been interested in helping others. I was trained as a medical anthropologists and even got my thesis turned into a book. So when I got the chance to do more technical consulting with The Internet Bar, I was excited about contributing more. That gig matriculated into me taking on the position of Director of Tech for Justice, and initiative that works to bring more access to justice through facilitating and creating technology.

I learned that I can’t be the kind of anthropologist I want to be without engineering, and I can’t be the engineer that I want to be without anthropology

And so my new mission is born. I intend to use my magical powers to help solve human problems. In the spirit of entrepreneurship, I have also started an agency. Culture Code Web Ageny is a strategic design and innovation firm aimed at solving very human problems (like resume writing, digital strategy, building an online presence, creating software for everyday issues) using technology and of course, the wonders of the web.

There is truly a yin/yang quality to it all. I also realized that the innovative nature of being an anthropologist should be used more to solve some of our biggest and most complex problems. As a millennial, the problems that my generation has on its plate are really huge, and require some out of the box thinking. The best way for me to do that is to find ways to solve problems with code.

It’s the quickest way to make a large impact and there is so much need that exists. Although I love technology, I want to make solutions that are meant to improve people’s quality of life, even if that means making simple tech. There are still humans on the other side of that screen, and that is who I want to focus on. I am hoping that this venture is more than a way for me to play with code.

What I hope for this venture is to make little improvements to someone’s everyday life by creating custom solutions that matter. I believe that the best way to change the world is one little step at a time.

This is my first step.