Kelvin Ma
Software Engineering Director
Software engineering leader with 8+ years building, scaling, and retaining high-performing teams from startup to acquisition. Proven experience guiding organizations through complex M&A integrations and driving productivity by championing emerging technologies.
About Me
From Photojournalism to Engineering Leadership
My career journey is unconventional: I started as a photojournalist with a client list that included The New York Times, Bloomberg News, and The Wall Street Journal, earning a Pulitzer Prize nomination for my coverage of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. In 2015, I transitioned to software engineering through General Assembly's Web Development Immersive program, bringing creative problem-solving skills from photojournalism into technical leadership.
Leading the AI-Augmented Engineering Era
I'm a passionate advocate and power user of generative AI coding tools, championing their adoption across engineering teams to drive measurable productivity gains. At Travelers, I've led the successful integration of tools like GitHub Copilot and Claude into daily workflows, demonstrating that the future of software engineering isn't about replacing developers—it's about amplifying their capabilities.
With 8+ years of experience building, scaling, and retaining high-performing teams from startup to acquisition, I specialize in M&A integrations, AI-first development practices, and creating engineering cultures where people do their best work. I believe the most effective engineering leaders today are those who can blend strategic vision with hands-on technical expertise — I practice what I preach by using AI tools daily for everything from rapid prototyping to architectural planning.
Photography remains a personal creative outlet—you can follow my ongoing work on Instagram @_kelvin_internet_.
Leadership & Strategy
- Generative AI Adoption & Developer Productivity
- AI-Augmented Development Practices
- Engineering Leadership & Team Building
- M&A Integration & Post-Acquisition Leadership
- Engineering Culture & Developer Experience
- Technical Architecture & System Design
Technical Expertise
- GitHub Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT & AI Tools
- Elixir / Phoenix Framework
- React / TypeScript / Next.js
- Ruby / Ruby on Rails
- GraphQL & API Design
- Distributed Systems & Microservices
- Cloud Infrastructure (AWS, GCP)
Career Journey
Director of Software Engineering
Travelers Insurance • 2025 - Present
Leading post-acquisition integration and championing generative AI adoption across engineering teams, driving significant productivity gains. Maintaining below-average team attrition through transparent communication and supportive leadership during organizational transition.
Sr. Manager, Engineering
Corvus Insurance • 2020 - 2025
Scaled engineering teams from 10 to 50+ engineers. Led Travelers partnership integration and launched two new insurance products. Aligned engineering roadmaps with business objectives while building high-performing, collaborative teams.
Team Lead → Engineering Manager
Forward Financing • 2016 - 2019
First engineering hire. Built and led team of 7 engineers, established engineering culture and co-op program. Developed internal tools supporting 573% company growth and integrated ML into underwriting processes.
Featured Work
Recent projects and initiatives spanning technical architecture, team leadership, and strategic initiatives.
M&A Platform Integration
Led the technical integration of acquired insurance platform into Travelers ecosystem. Designed migration strategy, coordinated engineering teams across organizations, and established unified technical standards.
Underwriting Platform
Architected and launched an industry-leading underwriting and pricing platform for multiple Cyber and Technology insurance products.
Engineering Culture Framework
Developed and implemented comprehensive engineering culture framework including career ladders, technical standards, and mentorship programs. Improved retention and team satisfaction scores.
Want to learn more about my work and leadership approach?
Let's ConnectGet in Touch
Interested in engineering leadership, technical strategy, or just want to connect?
I'd love to hear from you.
Let's Connect
I'm always open to discussing engineering leadership, technical strategy, M&A integrations, or opportunities in the tech space.