Connecting the Dots

I have always been fascinated with looking backward and connecting the dots. How did I get here? There are life experiences beyond our control, but how we react to them is rooted in everything we've experienced up to that point. When I trace my own thread back, through dance studios, a computer science degree, twelve years building crisis management systems at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, and of course taking the terrifyingly terrific leap of starting my own company, the common thread is always the same. It's the people.

Not a groundbreaking observation, I know, but sometimes we need a reminder. The relationships that matter don't expire with time. The mentor who encouraged me to take my first CS class sparked a curiosity that still drives every product decision I make today. The emergency manager who trusted me with their workflow opened a window into what real coordination looks like under pressure, and that perspective shapes everything we build. These relationships sustain and carry me forward.

My story took a decided turn toward emergency management on July 1, 2011, and I am so grateful to be here. The humanness of what emergency management professionals do is extraordinary. I am in awe of the resourcefulness they show navigating a politicized world where their primary goal is saving lives. They work in one of the most complex environments imaginable to ensure the most basic necessity: life.

My contribution can feel trivial in comparison. But that's exactly why it matters to get it right. The tools we build at Generation NYX exist to support their work, and what we've learned, what we keep learning, is that the work that truly lasts is always sustained by people and relationships, not titles or roles.

This blog is where we'll share that journey. What we've learned, what there is yet to discover, and how we're working to make these tools accessible to everyone who needs them.

-Steph