# Justin Miyake's Manager Readme

**Associate Director at Navex**

# Leadership & Working With Me

## Why I’m Sharing This

If our careers have crossed, there’s a good chance we’ll work together in some capacity. I believe strong leadership starts with clear communication, so this is my attempt to share how I think, what I value, and what you can expect from me.

> “Be a learner, not one of the learned. In times of change, learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.”
> 
> — Eric Hoffer

## My Role

I see my role as a **positive disruptor of the status quo**.

I build and lead balanced teams that solve meaningful business and technical problems. My job is to create the environment where talented people can do their best work: provide clarity, remove obstacles, protect focus, develop people, and make sure we are solving the right problems.

I don't believe leadership is about having all the answers. It's about asking good questions, creating alignment, making decisions when decisions are needed, and helping the team learn and adapt along the way.

I also believe leaders should understand the technology they lead. I have a hands-on engineering background and remain technically engaged—particularly around platform engineering, automation, infrastructure, software delivery, and emerging technologies.

## What I Value

**People & Family**  
People are more than their jobs. Family and life outside of work matter, and I believe good leaders create space for both.

**Trust & Teamwork**  
The best teams trust each other, challenge each other, and have each other's backs. Some of my most valuable leadership lessons have come from watching teams work through difficult problems together.

**Ownership**  
Take ownership of your work and see it through. Be accountable for commitments, communicate when something changes, and don't be afraid to call me out if I am not doing the same.

**Freedom to Operate**  
I don't believe in micromanagement. I hire talented people, give them context and clear outcomes, and trust them to determine how to get there. My responsibility is to make sure you have the support, resources, and air cover you need to succeed.

**Continuous Improvement**  
Always leave things better than you found them. That applies to technology, processes, teams, and ourselves. I value people who are curious, challenge assumptions, and look for better ways to work.

**Perseverance**  
Hard problems rarely have easy answers. I value people who stay engaged when things get difficult, learn from setbacks, and see important work through to completion.

**Culture**  
I want to create an environment that is open, inclusive, challenging, and fun—where people can do great work, learn from each other, and feel safe bringing ideas and concerns forward.

## What You Can Expect From Me

**Communication**  
I will be direct, transparent, and honest. If there is something you need to know, I will tell you. If I don't know the answer, I'll tell you that too.

**1:1s**  
1:1s are your time. Bring what is important to you—projects, challenges, career development, ideas, or things you need help navigating. I'll use the time to understand how I can support you, not simply to provide status updates.

**Support & Air Cover**  
My job is to remove unnecessary distractions and create the conditions for you to focus on meaningful work. When the team needs escalation, alignment, or organizational support, I'll step in.

**Development**  
I want people on my teams to grow. That means giving people opportunities to stretch, providing candid feedback, and helping connect their work to where they want to go next.

**Challenge Me**  
If you disagree with me, say so. I value thoughtful disagreement and would rather have a healthy debate than have someone silently agree and leave the room unconvinced.

## A Little About Me

I'm a Portland-area native and a father of three. I enjoy traveling with my family, photography, automobiles, and soccer. I'm a life-long Arsenal supporter and still play when I can.

Outside of my primary work, I use generative AI to build tools in days that would normally take weeks to months to complete.

## How I Work

My normal working hours are 7 **:00 AM–4:00 PM Pacific, Monday–Friday**.

I value focused time and am intentional about meetings. If something can be handled asynchronously, I'm happy to do that. If a conversation will be more effective live, let's talk.

My preferred communication is:

1. **In person or video** for complex topics, feedback, and important conversations.
2. **Slack/text** for quick questions and time-sensitive issues.
3. **Email** for information that doesn't require an immediate response.

Most importantly, **don't wait for a scheduled meeting if something needs attention.** If you need help, have a concern, or think we're heading in the wrong direction, reach out.

## My Leadership Principle

**Make the team better. Make the technology better. Leave the organization better than you found it.**