First, congratulations on your selection as a 2025 BigDATAwire Person to Watch! Observability data continues to explode in volume and has become a big data problem in of itself. Do you think a little buyer’s remorse is in order?

There’s definitely a realization setting in across the industry that more data doesn’t always mean better outcomes. Companies have invested heavily in collecting everything, only to find themselves buried in cost and complexity. It’s not so much buyer’s remorse as it is an inflection point: teams are asking smarter questions now. What data do I really need? How can I more effectively collect and analyze it? How do I get value from it without breaking the bank? That’s where Cribl comes in — helping customers analyze, collect, process, and route data so they’re not stuck with an all-or-nothing approach.
 

What is Cribl’s perspective on observability data. How does it create value for customers?

Observability data is an asset — if you can control it. What we’ve done at Cribl is give customers the flexibility to decide what data to keep, where it goes, and in what format. That means better performance, reduced costs, and less time spent managing pipelines. It’s not just about collecting logs and metrics. It’s about giving teams options and empowering them to search the data to find insights and take actions. Observability data is the backbone of IT and security, but to create value these teams need a new composable management approach. After all, the data belongs to them, not to the tools they’re forced to use.
 

Cribl’s success has spawned a number of imitators. What would you like to say to them?

Honestly? Welcome. It validates the market we’ve built. But copying the surface is easy — building something that delivers real value to customers is hard. We’ve been doing this for years. We’ve made mistakes, learned fast, and stayed focused on one thing: making life better for IT and security teams. If others can push the space forward too, great. But we’ll keep raising the bar.
 

Cribl’s mascot is a goat named Ian. Why did you pick a goat, and why is his name Ian?

There are a few origin stories — some more serious than others. One version traces back to Skanderbeg, a legendary Albanian hero whose helmet had a goat’s head. Another involves a haunted animatronic goat we found online. Goats are known for their ability to adapt, navigate rough terrains, and consume nearly anything, which mirrors the ethos at the heart of Cribl. From navigating the complexities of IT infrastructure to consuming and processing vast data streams, our solutions reflect the goat’s ability to adapt and thrive. And why Ian? Ian is a nod to all of us here at Cribl being “Criblanians.”
 

What can you tell us about yourself outside of the professional sphere – unique hobbies, favorite places, etc.? Is there anything about you that your colleagues might be surprised to learn?

When I’m not working, I’m an avid reader, watch all kinds of shows and movies, and gaming on my PS5 and steam deck. I also play guitar, take photos, and love to cook good food. I also spend a lot of time thinking about and tinkering with our products because this job really is my biggest passion. I’m pretty active in our Slack channels, so most colleagues hear about my hobbies often. But what might surprise people is that I don’t dwell on the past. I don’t spend time ruminating or looking backward. I’m focused on what’s next — for Cribl, our customers, and our team.