Drawing from my eight years of military experience, I want to share key insights on building diverse, high-performing teams in the tech industry. The military taught me that diversity isn't just about representation—it's about leveraging different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences to create stronger, more effective teams.
In the military, we learned that mission success depends on every team member bringing their unique strengths to the table. This principle applies directly to software engineering teams. When we have developers from different backgrounds—whether that's different educational paths, cultural backgrounds, or life experiences—we naturally approach problems from multiple angles.
One of the most important lessons I learned was the value of psychological safety. In the military, lives depend on team members feeling safe to speak up, ask questions, and admit when they don't understand something. The same principle applies in tech teams. When developers feel safe to propose new ideas, admit mistakes, or ask for help, the entire team performs better.
Another crucial aspect is clear communication and shared purpose. Military units succeed because everyone understands not just their role, but how their role contributes to the larger mission. In tech teams, this translates to ensuring every developer understands not just their specific tasks, but how their code contributes to the product and user experience.
The transition from military to civilian tech required me to adapt my communication style. Military communication tends to be direct and hierarchical, while tech teams often operate with flatter structures and more collaborative decision-making processes. Learning to balance directness with collaboration has been key to my success as both an individual contributor and team leader.
Building inclusive teams also means creating systems that support continuous learning and growth. In the military, we had structured training programs and clear advancement paths. In tech, I've found that the most successful teams create similar structures—regular code reviews, mentorship programs, and opportunities for developers to stretch into new areas.