Unlocking the Full Potential of Network Infrastructure

The quote I’ve been returning to lately is “slow is smooth, smooth is fast.” It comes from the Navy SEALs, and it resonates deeply with where I find myself in 2025. After spending much of my life rushing—harried by anxiety I didn’t even recognize—I’ve decided to slow the fuck down and focus on doing the things I truly want to do, and doing them well. Or, as Cal Newport puts it: Do fewer things. Work at a natural pace. Obsess over quality.

Which brings me to today’s announcement: I’m launching Khadga Consulting.

Why “Khadga”?

The name comes from the Sanskrit word for “sword,” specifically the sword of knowledge wielded by Manjushri, the bodhisattva (Bhudda-to-be) of wisdom. I’ve always found Manjushri to be similar to Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods to give it to humans, both figures represent the transformative power of knowledge.

Some of you asked if “Khadga” might be difficult for Western audiences to pronounce. Perhaps. But the meaning matters more to me than the ease of saying it (it’s “KHA-d-juh,” by the way). Because at its core, my new firm aims to cut through organizational confusion and technical complexity with clarity and wisdom.

Why Now?

In my previous post about what’s next, I shared how I’ve been putting deep thought into exactly what I should focus on. After months of deliberation, two things have become crystal clear:

First, there’s a real need in the world for this work

In almost every conversation I’ve had about network automation over the past decade, the same pattern emerges: the biggest challenge isn’t the technology; it’s the organization, the leadership, and the culture.

I’ve watched countless talented engineers who desperately want to improve the resilience and agility of their networks through modern management tools and techniques slam into an unseen organizational wall. They can’t make meaningful progress without support from above. This kind of transformative change must be driven by executive leaders who understand that their network infrastructure isn’t just a cost center; it’s a strategic asset, a potential differentiator for their business outcomes.

That’s the gap I intend to fill. By advising executives on network infrastructure strategy, I believe I can help more organizations unlock the full potential of their networks. And in doing so, I genuinely believe I’ll help make the world work better.

Second, I am uniquely suited to do this work

I don’t say this lightly or out of hubris, but after 20+ years in this industry, I’ve developed a rather unusual combination of skills and perspectives:

• I’ve built networks of all kinds – from service provider to data center to campus
• I’ve created and led both for-profit companies and not-for-profit organizations
• I’ve spent most of my career at the intersection between deep technical expertise and business realities – I can speak both languages fluently
• I have a natural ability to see the big picture without losing sight of the details – I can zoom in and out between strategic vision and technical implementation
• My strongest natural talents are learning fast and synthesizing well – give me a complex problem and I’ll discover all the relevant data, separate signal from noise, and deliver clear, competent recommendations

I also love project-based work, where I can take on a challenging problem, solve it thoroughly, and move on to the next one. And I genuinely enjoy working with talented technologists and skilled leaders to help them perform better.

Not to mention I’ve dedicated my entire career to helping the world’s networks work better through my volunteer activities with organizations like IX-Denver, NANOG, ARIN, OIX, IETF, and most recently the Network Automation Forum (NAF).

What Khadga Consulting Will Do

Khadga will offer strategic advisory services focused on helping organizations transform their network infrastructure through both technological and cultural change. My methodology addresses the intersection of people, processes, and technology; because all three must evolve together for real transformation to take root.

Unlike traditional consultants who might focus solely on technology implementation, I aim to help executives understand how their network infrastructure can become a strategic asset that directly supports business outcomes. This means working with leadership to develop the organizational structures, incentives, and communication patterns that allow technical innovation to flourish.

The tagline for Khadga neatly sums up this approach: “Unlocking the Full Potential of Network Infrastructure through Technological and Cultural Transformation.”

Creating Deliberate Confidence

This new venture aligns perfectly with my three words for 2025: Create, Deliberate, Confidence.

I’m creating a new business built around the work I love most. I’m being deliberate in my approach: Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. And I’m moving forward with the confidence that comes from knowing I am good enough, a realization that hit me profoundly last year and continues to transform how I approach both work and life.

After years of consulting, building companies, and leading teams, I’m excited to focus exclusively on helping organizations navigate the complex intersection of network technology and organizational culture. This is where I believe I can provide the most value, and where I find the most joy in my work.

Join Me on This Journey

If you’re an executive struggling to realize the promised benefits of network automation, or an engineer hitting cultural roadblocks in your modernization efforts, I’d love to chat. The journey of technological transformation is rarely straightforward, but with the right guidance, it can be both successful and genuinely enjoyable.

You can learn more about Khadga Consulting at khadga.consulting or reach out to me directly.

Here’s to slowing down, finding joy in the journey, and cutting through ignorance with the sword of knowledge. ⚔️