Meet Spencer Pitman, Engineering Director at Clonal Labs by West Monroe and a member at Shift Bannock. We asked Spencer to share the ideas, tools, and habits shaping how he works right now, from the concepts he keeps coming back to, to the lessons that stuck, to the small upgrades that made his days run smoother. Here’s what he told us.
What’s a concept worth understanding right now?
Graph databases and context engines
What’s a tool worth trying?
What’s a book, movie, or song you think about often, and why?
Moby Dick. Sometimes I feel like Ishmael, sometimes like Queequeg, sometimes like Ahab.
What’s a podcast episode you recommend to almost everyone?
Any episode of Empire Pod UK
What’s a piece of advice you’ve received that’s aged well?
“Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.”
What’s a habit that quietly improved your work?
Starting the morning without rushing, which meant waking up a bit earlier.
What’s a problem you enjoy solving, and why is it satisfying?
Graph traversals in complex databases, mainly because it helps me do my job better.
What’s a mistake that taught you something useful?
Failing at a mountain guiding business because I chased cool/sexy work over lucrative work. Always pay attention to the fundamentals.
What’s a newsletter worth subscribing to?
What’s a resource you wish you found earlier?
What’s a small upgrade that made your work easier?
A candle warmer!
What’s a skill more people should practice?
Uphill skiing
What’s a quote that’s shaped the way you live and work?
“Swerve me? The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails, whereon my soul is grooved to run. Over unsounded gorges, through the rifled hearts of mountains, under torrents’ beds, unerringly I rush! Naught’s an obstacle, naught’s an angle to the iron way!”
What’s a trend you’re paying attention to?
Straighter side cuts in freeride skis
What’s a rule you follow that isn’t written anywhere?
Don’t schedule meetings on Monday mornings.
What’s a shortcut that’s actually worth taking?
Straight down from the top of Avalanche Bowl
What’s a practice that keeps you grounded?
Motorcycles, bicycle racing, and mountaineering
What’s a sign you’re on the right track?
It doesn’t get easier, you just get faster.
What’s something you’re exploring right now?
Control Plane IAM!
