Alexander Michael Habighorst is a multidisciplinary professional with a career that bridges technology, policy, and the humanities. He currently serves as a Quality Assurance Engineer specializing in application testing, project management, and software usability standards. Habighorst holds a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, cum laude, and has pursued additional studies in political philosophy and literature at an esteemed international university. Before transitioning into the tech sector, Habighorst built a diverse resume in academia and the nonprofit world. He co-authored policy white papers, managed CRM databases for donor engagement, and provided operational leadership at a major research institution. His scholarly work includes presenting original research at academic conferences in political science and transatlantic studies. Known for his meticulous attention to detail, strong communication skills, and interdisciplinary thinking, Habighorst brings a unique blend of analytical rigor and creative insight to every project. His experience also includes work in library services, nonprofit consulting, and elementary education, showcasing his adaptability and broad intellectual interests. With a passion for continuous learning, Habighorst remains committed to ethical innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and delivering high-quality outcomes in complex environments. He hopes to positively impact lives with the skills he has acquired and continues to develop.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
A typical day begins early with quiet time to read or plan before diving into meetings, testing cycles, or documentation. I organize my workload using a priority matrix; critical bugs and cross-functional deliverables take precedence. To stay productive, I time-block tasks and schedule check-ins with team members to ensure alignment. Minimizing context switching helps keep momentum. I also use brief end-of-day reflections to assess progress and adjust priorities. Whether working in tech QA or policy research, productivity hinges on setting clear goals and continuously refining workflows to meet them. Consistency, communication, and careful time management drive my day forward.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Ideas begin with immersion, researching, questioning, and mapping patterns. Once I spot a promising concept, I sketch its structure, define the scope, and solicit early feedback. For technical initiatives, I create detailed test plans and user stories. In policy or academic work, I begin with an annotated outline and identify collaborators or expert sources. Execution depends on breaking ideas down into actionable components, supported by clear communication and regular iteration. I often use visualization tools to present ideas to stakeholders and refine them based on real-world feedback. Ideas thrive when rooted in curiosity and guided by structure.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I’m particularly excited by the rising emphasis on digital accessibility in software development. As both a quality assurance professional and someone who values inclusive design, I see the push for equitable digital experiences as more than just compliance; it’s a moral imperative. The growing use of AI to test accessibility, alongside human-centred design principles, promises to democratize information and services for people of all abilities. This trend is expanding how we define usability and innovation. It excites me to be part of an industry that increasingly values equity and usability at its core, not as afterthoughts.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
I keep a running daily log of completed tasks and key decisions. It’s simple, but transformative. This practice offers a clear record of progress, patterns in productivity, and accountability. Reviewing the log weekly helps me identify recurring bottlenecks, recognize accomplishments I might otherwise overlook, and refine my planning strategy. It also reduces mental clutter by offloading memory-intensive tracking into a system. The habit builds momentum, fosters reflection, and has become an anchor in both solo and team-based projects. It pairs well with asynchronous communication in remote environments and helps me deliver high-quality, consistent output.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I’d tell my younger self: Don’t delay experimenting with different paths. It’s easy to cling to linear expectations or predefined plans, especially when you’re a high achiever. But growth often comes from unexpected detours. Whether it’s teaching, coding, nonprofit strategy, or academic research, each pivot added value and dimension to my career. I’d also stress the importance of networking—not just for opportunities, but for perspective. Invest time in peers and mentors who challenge your assumptions. Finally, don’t underestimate your ability to bridge disciplines. Your curiosity and drive to connect ideas across fields will become your greatest strengths.
Tell us something you believe that almost nobody agrees with you on?
I believe that over-specialization can be a liability, especially in knowledge-based careers. While depth of expertise is critical, we’ve undervalued breadth. Too often, professionals are siloed into hyper-narrow roles that stifle innovation. In contrast, those with interdisciplinary backgrounds are well-equipped to see blind spots, synthesize insights, and adapt to change. Unfortunately, this belief sometimes clashes with institutional norms that prioritize rigid career ladders and niche mastery. I argue that fostering generalists, who think holistically and connect across domains, will be essential in navigating 21st-century complexity, especially in sectors like tech, policy, and education.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I consistently write things down by hand, ideas, questions, frameworks, and reflections. Despite all the digital tools I use daily, writing by hand helps crystallize thinking in a way typing often doesn’t. It forces me to slow down, internalize information, and distil clarity from clutter. I’ve used this technique in everything from debugging processes to policy drafts. It’s especially helpful when trying to untangle abstract problems or prepare for difficult conversations. Whether through journaling or diagramming, handwritten notes offer a tactile form of cognitive mapping. I recommend it as a complement to any productivity system.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
When overwhelmed, I take a short reset walk, preferably outdoors, and reframe the problem. Removing myself from the screen for 15 minutes helps clear cognitive static. I also rely on a technique called “progressive narrowing,” where I reduce a large problem to the next two achievable steps. Regrounding in action, rather than analysis, creates traction. Sometimes, I’ll use a mind map to chart the chaos and reestablish order visually. Breathing exercises and hydration aren’t glamorous but are surprisingly effective. The goal is not to push through forcefully, but to recalibrate, regain agency, and resume with clarity.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Strategic volunteering has had a major impact. By volunteering for interdepartmental initiatives or side projects outside my immediate job scope, whether in academia, nonprofits, or tech, I’ve built new skills, widened my network, and positioned myself as a collaborative problem-solver. These experiences opened doors to leadership opportunities and allowed me to explore interdisciplinary applications of my skills. I once led a cross-functional documentation revamp project that wasn’t in my job description but later became central to a promotion. Taking initiative in overlooked areas often leads to surprising growth and recognition.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Early in my career, I underestimated the importance of stakeholder alignment during a multi-site research collaboration. I focused on execution, tracking deliverables, analyzing data, but overlooked early buy-in from all contributors. The result was confusion, delays, and eventual disengagement from key partners. I overcame this by initiating a recovery plan: convening feedback sessions, recalibrating timelines, and co-creating a new communication rhythm. The experience taught me that even great execution fails without shared vision and trust. Since then, I’ve made stakeholder engagement a central part of project planning, especially in complex, interdisciplinary work.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
A platform for annotated legislative summaries written in plain language, aimed at civic education and public advocacy. It would pair AI-generated bill summaries with expert-reviewed annotations, organized by policy area and jurisdiction. Users could track legislation, compare state-level trends, and access nonpartisan explainers. There’s a growing need for accessible legal and policy content, not just for professionals but for the general public, educators, and local organizers. This project could blend civic tech with media literacy and promote democratic engagement. I’ve seen firsthand how inaccessible legislative language can hinder participation.v
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Notion has been transformative. I use it as an all-in-one system to manage projects, track QA documentation, store research notes, and map out long-term goals. For testing workflows, I create databases that categorize bugs, test cases, and release notes, complete with priority tags and embedded checklists. I also maintain personal dashboards that blend weekly planning with idea capture. Its flexibility lets me create custom views—Kanban, timeline, or table—depending on the project. Notion reduces tool-switching and keeps everything in context, making it ideal for both technical and intellectual work.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
One book I often return to is “The Intellectual Life” by A.G. Sertillanges. Though written a century ago, it offers timeless wisdom on balancing contemplation and action in scholarly and creative pursuits. It stresses discipline, solitude, and service, all themes relevant across careers. As someone who toggles between academic and technical domains, the book grounds me in the value of intellectual rigour paired with moral purpose. It’s helped me build sustainable habits of reading, reflection, and meaningful contribution, even in fast-paced environments.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I recently enjoyed the series “Slow Horses,” based on the novels by Mick Herron. Its blend of espionage, dark humor, and flawed but brilliant characters resonated with me. The show highlights how unconventional thinkers, often overlooked or underestimated, can bring immense value when given the right challenge. It’s a story about misfits who still manage to protect something meaningful, and I found that inspiring. The pacing, writing, and subversion of genre tropes kept me engaged while also reflecting broader themes of redemption, loyalty, and bureaucratic absurdity.
Key learnings
- Interdisciplinary thinking and intellectual breadth can be powerful assets in tech, policy, and education fields.
- Productivity thrives on structured systems, handwritten notes, and intentional reflection habits.
- Stakeholder alignment and proactive communication are critical in avoiding project breakdowns.
- Volunteering for cross-functional initiatives often unlocks career growth and leadership opportunities.