Three spreadsheets, a cappellas, zero algorithm favor
I make sure big companies don’t lose millions because somebody in Sales thinks “customer” means one thing and somebody in Finance thinks it means literally the opposite thing. Been doing this long enough to know the most common phrase in enterprise meetings: “Wait, which spreadsheet are we looking at?”
Also make gospel covers on YouTube. Started years ago with songs I grew up hearing in Zimbabwe, the kind where everyone knows their part and nobody’s trying to outshine anyone else. Upload schedule is “whenever,” and the copyright bot thinks every song ever written belongs to Sony, but whatever.
Take photos sometimes. Think money exists to buy choices. Done.
"I've seen people argue for an hour about decimal placement. I've re-recorded the same harmony seventeen times because it sounded wrong. Precision is just stubbornness with a purpose."
Evertone "Severtone" Siwela
Makes sure spreadsheets don’t lie / Sings all four harmony parts
Bank of America Weekdays, YouTube Whenever
Data governance at Bank of America. Gospel covers on YouTube. Photos when I remember. Money's for buying choices, not storage units.
Started building dashboards at Dell in 2012. Now I design the systems that keep spreadsheets from lying to executives. The music thing has been going for about as long, mostly me singing all four harmony parts and arguing with YouTube's copyright algorithm.
Both require the same skill: caring enough about details to do something seventeen times until it stops being wrong.
Recent uploads
Gospel covers, Christmas songs, stuff I grew up listening to. Been uploading for over a decade now, no schedule, just whenever it feels right. The four-part harmonies take forever to get clean, but that’s the whole reason to do it.
14
December, 2024
O Holy Night - NSYNC Cover
20
December, 2022
Joy To The World - (Naturally 7 Cover)
25
December, 2020
In The Bleak Midwinter - (Naturally 7 Cover)
Thoughts on data, music, and financial empowerment
I write about things I’ve actually spent time thinking about. No hot takes on yesterday’s trends or listicles about “10 ways to optimize your [insert buzzword].” Just observations from working with data systems that handle millions of dollars, making music that YouTube’s copyright bot hates, and trying to build a life where money buys choices instead of stuff.
Most of it’s about data governance (making sure companies don’t trip over their own spreadsheets) and how it’s weirdly similar to arranging vocal harmonies (everyone needs to know their part). Sometimes I write about financial decisions that actually matter. Sometimes I just complain about SharePoint permissions. It varies.
