Quality over quantity
Whether it's a client project or something I'm building for myself, I'd rather do fewer things well. It's how I run Up High Studio and how I'm building Proudly Paired.
I've spent more than 16 years making technology work for people.
I'm Shaun Pezeshki. I build websites, systems and workflows that make work simpler for teams and small businesses. Outside of work, I care most about community, writing and good conversations.
How I got here
I have a computer science background and more than 16 years in tech, across marketing, development, automation, AI workflows and client service.
That path led me naturally to building products. I care about understanding people, choosing problems worth solving, and making things people can actually use. Today most of that happens through my company, Up High Studio.
What I care about
Showing up for my community
I sit on the HRC Columbus steering committee as Digital Engagement Chair. Community is where I learn the most about people.
Conversations that go somewhere
I'd take a long coffee and a real question over small talk any day. It's why I still offer coffee chats to anyone who asks.
Where I've been, in my own words
I've called Washington, DC, Seattle, San Francisco and Austin home, and now Columbus, Ohio. I grew up in Michigan. These are the moments that changed how I work and live, each one a story I wrote at the time.
From Digital Agency to Cultural Advocacy?
Exploring the vibrant intersection of personal passions, cultural identity, and professional aspirations.
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Navigating Difficult Client Relationships: When to Say No
Balancing client demands with business integrity is challenging. Here's how Up High Studio handles difficult clients and when it's best to part ways.
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What Moving to Austin Taught Me About Friendship, Family, and Self-Growth
Moving to Austin, TX, was meant to be a fresh start. Instead, it turned into a journey of unexpected challenges and profound lessons about friendship, family, and personal growth.
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My Own Naw Ruz: Finding Growth in New Beginnings
This Naw Ruz marks more than spring, it marks a fresh start, reclaiming myself after years of feeling paused.
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A Good City Is Not Enough
A year in Columbus, Ohio showed me the difference between a place working on paper and a place working for you.
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HRC Equality in Action: What I Learned by Showing Up
I flew to DC for HRC Equality in Action expecting panels. I came home with new friends, an award I did not see coming, and a clearer view of the work ahead.
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Community and writing
I write about identity, community, work, technology, and the parts of life that don't fit neatly into a resume. Some of it is published with Prism & Pen, a publication that amplifies LGBTQ+ voices.
I also serve on the Columbus steering committee for the Human Rights Campaign. Both are a big part of who I am and how I see the world.
Read my storiesI'd love to hear from you.
Bring a project, a career question, an idea you're not sure about yet, or just say hello.