THE FULL STORY

In my 20s, I wanted to be Sam Seaborn from The West Wing. I wanted to influence the most important decisions, write fiery speeches, and lead with passion and heart.

Thirty years later, I've come to understand that what I'm actually good at, and what brings me genuine joy, is helping people navigate incredible complexity to build something new. Something that matters. Something that lasts.

I've had the privilege of doing that work across a lot of different rooms. As a founding member and Vice President at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, I helped shape and deploy more than $500 million, launching the foundation's first software engineering program, its first national policy program, and a half dozen new funding strategies. As Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer for the New Jersey Department of Education, and before that in the New York City Department of Education, I made decisions that touched millions of children. As a Presidential Leadership Scholar, I've been in the room with some of the most serious leaders in the country doing the hardest kinds of work.

Today I do two things. Through Bonovin, I advise nonprofits navigating hard moments of change, including strategic pivots, new initiatives, and mergers, the moments when the old approach stops working. And through Bonovin Philanthropy Advisory, I work with individuals and families who want their giving to reflect what they believe, helping them find clarity, build shared vision across families and generations, and give with real impact and joy.

I hold a Master of Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a BA from Georgetown University. Earlier in my life I was a musician and songwriter with songs featured on national television. I live in Atlanta with my wife and two passionate and joyful children.

I may not be Sam Seaborn. But I love what I do.