That's the million-dollar question, isn't it? I've had the luck of performing several roles throughout my life: I've been a daughter, a writer, a startup investor (less exciting than it sounds), a CEO, CTO, and COO. A software developer. A web designer. I've been a freelancer and a so-called entrepreneur. Most of all, however, I think of myself as a builder.

I love to build. To face the challenge of creation. The blank page staring back at me at night, the unsaved vim document haunting me—challenging me—to code. The empty Sketch canvas daring me to dream.

How do I work?

I'm someone who will never take herself too seriously, and thus will joke continuously. About 85% of what I say will be said in jest, and the remaining 15% is probably not worth hearing or considering. Disclaimer: those statistics may be off. And that's part of the fun!

I don't believe in schedules or, necessarily, in work-life balance, but I do think people should be free to define their own priorities and focus on what matters to them.

Family matters, most of the time, as do friends and hobbies.

Work can always be important, too. I do my best to immerse myself in whatever I've set out to do and leave nothing on the table, no matter the cost or the challenge, as exciting—or unhealthy—as that may be.

I also possess high standards and expectations about how things should work, but I do my best to hold them only for myself, never judging or measuring others against them. I believe everyone has plenty to offer, and if I can work with them—learn from them—then we can collaborate and build the kind of amazing things that will make us both proud.

The idea that people should be free to run around—and amok—is important to me, as well. I support others by sharing suggestions, and perhaps my vision and insights, but never assuming my thoughts are the right ones, nor the only ones, and that everyone is welcome to try their best, battle-testing and learning through their own set of beliefs and insights. That's where the learning happens (and the scars form).

I also tend to speak fast—quite fast—in both Spanish and English, which may make it seem like I'm saying something important and people shouldn't interrupt me. In reality, interruptions are not only welcomed, but encouraged.

Finally, I love healthy discourse. I live for debate, the metaphorical clash of swords cast from arguments and shields forged by words. The more someone pushes me to think, learn, and grow, the more I'll cherish our interactions and look forward to our next skirmish.

When do I work?

I learned a while ago to listen and adapt my work process to what works best for my mind, body, and attention span (something that can vary quite a bit given that I have adult ADHD, which I keep mostly under control, even if it means diving into plenty of hobbies).

A while back, that meant working nights, with only darkness as my companion. And pets. Or partners.

Nowadays, though, I find myself being more productive early in the morning.

I've recently updated my schedule to start at 10 AM PET and end at 7 PM PET because I wanted to use the early hours to work on some personal projects, but take those "start" and "end" times loosely—I'm usually starting earlier and finishing later anyway.

I do try my best to remain available 24/7, for whatever reason, as long as I'm around. And I tend to be around. However, expect a somewhat extended delay if you reach out to me past 10 PM or during weekends or holidays.

How do I prefer to work?

I almost always prefer working remotely.

I've been doing it for the past twenty-two years, starting when I was thirteen and never really stopping. Because of that, I prefer async communication through Slack or email (I check it almost every 5 minutes), but calls are fine if you think that'd create some value or you work better that way.

I really dislike meetings but have learned to work around them.

What do I value?

Here are some of the things I believe in, albeit this list won't be definitive nor complete:

Problems belong to everyone, and anyone can help solve them, regardless of their experience level or role.
Asking questions is great. Asking informed questions is even better.
Rules exist to create frameworks and to abstract reality. They should never be considered as black and white statements, and the best things tend to happen when we learn to bend them for good.
Execution trumps ideas. Well-intentioned ideas trump almost everything else.
When in doubt, err on the side of goodness. This choice will affect us. Endanger us. Experience has taught me it may lead us down a brittle path, or throw us into an unfair situation, where every step may be rocky and hard. That's all right. We can take it, as long as there was a good intention behind it, and we've tried our best. Things tend to work themselves out, somehow, and a good deed, even if punished, still can go a long way in helping others.
As the Doctor said: “Never be cruel nor cowardly. Never give up. Never give in. […] Remember — hate is always foolish… and love is always wise. Always try to be nice and never fail to be kind”
We should strive to do our best, no matter the circumstance, situation, or context. It's one way of showing others we care about them and that they matter to us. It's also a way to see how what we do and what we build matters to ourselves.
Empathy is key. Being able to walk in other people's shoes, recognizing our privileges and how our individual life paths led us to where we stand now, and understanding that not everyone has had the same luck or opportunities, is important to understand how and why others behave as they do, and how to grow and adapt to interact with them.
Taking care of others is almost always more important than taking care of ourselves. But, as the airlines have taught us, we need to breathe and have our own oxygen first to better serve them, so prioritize accordingly.
My values, how I think, and how I see the world have led me to some beliefs that apply only to me. I try really hard not to measure others based on them, because that would be unjust.

What do I love?

So many things, perhaps too many to list, but here are some of them.

I love creating. I love building cool stuff, the kind that comes with challenges so out of reach that only years of effort would get us near to accomplishing them. But also the ones that show us chasms can be crossed, and dragons can be defeated, and when they are—and they will—they'll fill us with the most excitement a person can experience as we emerge victoriously.

I love reading. Mostly anything, but mainly fiction. I love being able to walk and swim and dream in worlds and universes other minds have created. Stories are perhaps the most advanced technology we have devised as human beings, with the power to connect us so closely and perfectly to each other.

But most of all, I love writing. Picking one word among others, but not just any. The right one—le mot juste. The one that surfaced above any other word that could have possibly be used, and raised up to the challenge. And the adventure of then doing that process again.

And again.

Basting one after the other until something new looks back at us from where nothing existed before.

Words carry power and can change minds. Or create pain.

Writing gives us both the responsibility and the key to creation—building ideas and sharing dreams. But also nightmares, so care is always important. There are few things more powerful than words.Except for perhaps the Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.

And lastly, what do I expect?

For you to have fun.
For us to learn and work together, forging bonds that’d help us better understand who we are, and how to best support each other.
For you to have someone you can trust, and grow with, even if that person is not me.

Final instructions

As just another person currently stranded on this pale blue dot, any of the things stated above (except, perhaps, for my values and beliefs) may change and shift as time goes, so never hesitate to ask if you think something I'm doing says otherwise.

I can promise I'll do my best to help, and share what I know and what I have, adapting to the situation, and being as open as I can be. So never feel limited to act and live and work in different ways. In your own way.

And I'll always respect it, for it'd be true.