Aron Solberg’s Post

Not many people know this about me, but I used in work in IT. I mean real IT, not software engineering or product management. This was before I even know what product management was. But it was a very different environment than the kinds of companies I've worked at since. It was a K-12 school called the SF Waldorf School, and I ran IT there. In those days I was much less worried about ARR and auto-solve rates, and much more worried about keeping the Macbooks charged and the projectors and WiFi working properly. (Also about how to keep the kids from getting around my content filter -- shoutout to Sonicwall for the help). Why did I work there? For one, it seemed like a natural fit given my previous role as a computer lab manager at University of California, Santa Cruz (Go Slugs!) But mainly it was because I loved working with technology and using it to enable people to do amazing things. I also loved the fresh curiosity and energy the kids brought, and I was always amazed at how quickly they would learn new things, and what they could do with it. Okay maybe also IT was also a bit more employable than what I got from a bachelor's degree in Physics. But I still feel the same now as I did then: It's so rewarding to teach others what I know while also continuously learning new things myself. I've always loved that virtuous cycle. One of my favorite quotes is "you never know a subject so well as when you're forced to teach it." There's a lot I don't know and I'm always still learning myself, but I'll always try to be helpful if I can, for anyone who reaches out. IT is still about service for people.