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ISBN 9781119849889 (Hardcover)
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COVER DESIGN: PAUL MCCARTHY
To Jacqueline Harper – I'm here because you keep stepping into the unknown with curiosity, enthusiasm and purpose. You embody the spirit of Move to the Edge, Declare It Center, and I'm grateful to have you as a model.
Acknowledgments
To Steve Broback and Jason Preston, you invited me on stage to present the earliest glimmer of this work in 2017 at the Dent the Future Conference, and I appreciate your generosity and curiosity. Cris Beasely for making the connection. Shout‐out to Dave Whorton, Maria Hilton, and the Tugboat Conference for helping me get pragmatic in 2021.
To the many people who read early drafts of this book and provided great feedback: Ben Hecht, Roberta Katz, Morgan Webb, Daria Walls Torres, Ken Lynch, Erin Worsham, Shannon Arvizu, Molly Tapias, Cheryl Contee, Jenifer Fuqua, Kurt Foeller, Sarah Israel, Ed Batista, Matt Hammer, Melinda Byerly, Kristin Smith, Neil Cohen, and especially Muema Loembe.
To the connectors – my imaginal cells sharing their insights, contacts, and enthusiasm: Adam Grant, Mitaly Chakraborty, Margaret Greenberg, Jareau Wade, Leslie Mallman, Lili Root, Monica Guzman, Nicole Jarbo, Judy Wade, Tim Brown, Cris Beasely, Carlee Gomes, Laura Delizonna, Prof. Damon Phillips, Ellen Leanse, Deb Cohan, Leigh Morgan, Damon Brown, and Ellen McGirt. Flowers for the irrepressible Shaherose Charania – without you, none of this would be possible. Special shout‐out to Monica Byrne – you've been inspiring me for 30 years, from side‐eye to the Anti‐Resume.
To the leaders who agreed to share their experiences for this book: Jana, Danielle, Nate Mook, Jen Pahlka, Abdul Smith. You brought this book to life.
To the readers of late drafts, so much appreciation for your sharp eyes, and occasionally sharp tongues, in order to make this book better: Caroline Lambert, Andre Natta, Stewart Ugelow, Tiffani Ashley Bell, Kelly Werner, and especially Jen Tress for your consistent insight on writing. Special shout‐out to Anthony Grant, for your insightful imagery that gives readers memorable visual guideposts to follow.
To the Trussels – past and present employees of Truss – whose insight, creativity, and desire to make a positive impact in the world propels so many of the methods and processes in this book. I hope I've represented you well.
To my fellow Dukie, Laura Yorke, for your enthusiasm and laser‐sharp viewpoints. You don't suffer fools, and I feel fortunate to make the cut.
To Christina Harbridge, mentor and friend. Am I your favorite yet?
To Mark Ferlatte and Jennifer Leech. How did we do this Truss thing, anyway? Writing this book was an amazing review of all that we've done together, and I'm deeply thankful for your integrity, talent, trust, taste in bourbon, and especially your commitment to values. It's hard to believe those values we wrote together as a tiny startup still hold a company of 130 people together.
To Mei Mei Fox – we met over foie gras cotton candy, bonded over favorite yoga teachers, and have witnessed each other's triumphs and losses. You've been a guide for life, and now for this book. Namaste, girlll.
To Michele Turner, your divine inkwell guided my words when I needed them most.
To Julie Mikuta, for your fierce dedication to justice, and for being an amazing partner in sustaining a vision for a coparenting family. Next book?
To Damiana, I can't wait for you to blow this book out of the water – you are capable of that and more. Amo muito, querida.
To Abby, I couldn't have gotten more fortunate to write a book while being trapped during a pandemic in a house with the best “hype man,” teenage whisperer, English teacher editor, and unequivocal supporter. Your spirit and intelligence echo in these pages.
About the Author
Everett is the CEO and co‐founder of Truss, a human‐centered software development company, named as an Inc 5000 fastest‐growing private company in 2020 and 2021. He has led a purpose‐driven, impactful, innovative company that's been remote‐first since 2011, salary‐transparent since 2017, and a diverse workforce that far exceeds standards for technology companies.
He is a rare combination: a Black entrepreneur, with biomedical and electrical engineering degrees from Duke, an MBA and M.Ed. from Stanford, Silicon Valley startup pedigree, and management consulting at Bain. He has leveraged those experiences into a long track record for solving complex problems with social impact for millions of people, from helping fix Healthcare.gov, community development finance at Self‐Help, to fighting global poverty as a board member of CARE.
Everett has a history of firsts: first in his family to college and the first to win a soccer NCAA National Championship for Duke University. He was inducted into the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame in 2019.
Everett's distinctive voice and unique history make him a sought‐after speaker on DEI, technology startups, leadership, remote/hybrid work, and social entrepreneurship. He has been featured at conferences such as Dent, Tugboat, TechStars, and Velocity, and on podcasts like the Commonwealth Club and AfroTech. He has written for Forbes, Thrive Global, and TechCrunch. Move to the Edge, Declare It Center is his first book.
Everett grew up a small‐town kid in New York's Hudson Valley. He currently lives in Oakland, California, making limoncello when life hands him lemons.
