After university, I initially felt confined in the family business, so I explored other projects before returning to work on ambitious engineering projects.

I had to work my way through school, which shaped my work ethic and understanding of the industry.

I had to work my way through school, which shaped my work ethic and understanding of the industry.

Working with skilled engineers taught me the limits of materials and the importance of precision in manufacturing, which influenced my product designs.

We rented two apartments near the factory and put 15 engineers in them to oversee the manufacturing process directly, which helped us improve quality.

As your company matures, your role will change significantly. In the beginning, I saw myself as the janitor, fixing things and cleaning up, which is essential when things are moving fast.

I preferred to recruit builders—people who wanted to be known for what they created rather than what they said, and who were curious about many things. I started as a cartoonist before becoming an engineer, which attracted many early team members who were outsiders to technology.

The idea for PlanGrid came from my experience as a construction engineer, where I saw the need for better tools in the construction industry.

Hiring our first engineer was crucial; I felt like bringing in that person was like introducing DNA to our company.