Bio

Who am I?

I’m Andrew Powell. Most people know me as “AJ”. I’m a leader, teacher, director, IT consultant, evangelist, and public speaker by day; and a writer, magician, and game designer by night. I’m a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. I make things. That’s what I do. Personally and professionally, I make things. And then I make ’em better.

You can look at my work accomplishments over on my LinkedIn page. I am a leader and Director for an amazing company called Audible (you’ve probably heard of us, we’re in the business of audio storytelling). On my best days, I get to lead an amazing team, help to shape the future of our business, and talk — a LOT — about the evolving face of the AppDev industry, diversity in recruitment, culture as strategy, and, sometimes, the coming robot apocalypse.

I am the acting President of Change the Code, a 501(c).3 non-profit organization on a mission to engage with 7th & 8th grade girls and students of genders less represented in tech to learn, explore and express themselves by creating with code.  I also serve on the Board of Directors for Software GR, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to developing the craft of software development in West Michigan. 

My novel for young adults, called Grayson Rising, was released in 2016, so you might know me from that. I’ve designed a few games over the years, so you might’ve played one of my tabletop games. I invented and performed fully improvised stage illusions monthly at The Comedy Project (for several years, until my relocation to the greater New York area). but odds are good that you DON’T know me. You’re just here because you clicked on a link from one of my blog posts or social media accounts.

I’m pretty good in front of a crowd.
I’m pretty good at leading people.
I’m pretty good at thinking things through.

What are you looking for?
Odds are good I can point you in the right direction.