My fascination with products began years before I discovered programming, My memories around it start as young as six or so. Most kids make paper airplanes or boats; instead my crafts focused on utility: notepads, bags, wallets, cushions. I was obsessed with making things that people would use. My interest in these crafts was not artistic; it was entrepreneurial. I was obsessed with making things or offering services that people would find useful enough to actually buy. By eight, I had a string of failed ventures behind me, including:

Lea Verou

The author shares their early fascination with creating useful products and their journey from a young entrepreneur making handmade items to becoming a software engineer. They describe their passion for utility in product development, their experience in co-founding a startup, and the challenges they faced in academia. The narrative highlights their continuous drive to build products with real-world impact and the ultimate realization that product development, rather than traditional software engineering or academic research, is their true calling.

Product • Lea Verou