About Clayton
My career has taken me from building venture products to leading global product teams and, today, company-wide operations and technology. Across that work, some of the most rewarding moments have involved helping someone understand a difficult problem, find their footing, or become more confident in their own judgment.
I’m direct, curious, and comfortable working through complexity. Colleagues have described me as a natural teacher and a strong listener. I enjoy facilitating workshops and conversations where people can examine a problem together and leave with a clearer sense of what to do.
My time leading product teams at Rakuten shaped how I think about that responsibility. Seeing capable people struggle with difficult organizational situations drew me further into coaching, mentorship, and training. Helping them become happier and more effective product leaders was among the most worthwhile parts of the role.
Working with a coach myself also changed my perspective. It helped me recognize my own reactions, manage difficult days, and become more deliberate about how I respond. That experience gave me a deeper appreciation for the support people sometimes need alongside professional development.
Purpose matters to me. One project I particularly valued was Lola, where I helped build classroom software for children with executive-function challenges. The opportunity to make something useful for those children made the work personally meaningful.
Outside work, I spend much of my time with my wife and our two children. I also play competitive table tennis. The sport became an important part of my life when I found a welcoming community in Los Angeles more than a decade ago. It remains both a challenge I enjoy and a place to connect with people—and my wife keeps my assessment of my own playing ability grounded.
Professional affiliations
ACG Dallas — Member
Vistage — Member, Key Man group
W3C MiniApps Working Group — Past participant
If you’d like to discuss a leadership opportunity or connect professionally, I welcome a conversation.