I am Christopher Octa, currently a UX designer based in Atlanta, Georgia.
In a previous life (5+ years ago), I was a web developer (.NET technologies). I've also done some professional photography.
I'm very interested in fostering the relationship between a business and customer through great user experience and product design where problems and users are clearly defined and central to the crafting of the solution.
Where do I see myself in 5 years? My time as an individual contributor on a development team and a design team has led me wanting to pursue more responsibility in guiding cross-functional teams to create the right product and coming up with long-term product strategy as it relates to achieving company goals. At the same time, I also see myself becoming more entrenched in UX so having the opportunity to build out processes and teams that help deliver on UX strategy for a company would be something I would like to pursue as well. Therefore I can see myself either transitioning into a product manager role or into a managerial UX role.
To get there regardless if it's on the product management or UX track, I feel developing my skill set in thinking at a strategic level and having a better understanding of product, business and marketing will help me get there as well as collaborating with cross-functional individuals both new and masters in those fields to sharpen and better inform the skillsets I have today.

Product Design Books I Like
The Design of Everyday Things
by Donald Norman
by Donald Norman
Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products
by Nir Eyal
by Nir Eyal
Designing for Emotion
by Aarron Walter
by Aarron Walter
UX Strategy
by Jaime Levy
by Jaime Levy
Build Better Products
by Laura Klein
by Laura Klein
Escaping the Build Trap
by Melissa Perri
by Melissa Perri
Other Books I Like
The Making of a Manager
by Julie Zhuo
by Julie Zhuo
The Hard Thing About Hard Things
by Ben Horowitz
by Ben Horowitz