In the world of mass timber construction, Danny Haber stands out as an innovative leader with an extraordinary ability to juggle an intense schedule packed with back-to-back meetings and engaging responsibilities.
From Startup to Success
Haber’s journey took a significant turn at the Hacker Dojo in Mountain View, where he encountered Steve Jobs’ memorable last words: “Oh, wow.” For Danny, this phrase represented a deep appreciation for the unexpected twists of life, both personally and professionally.
It resonated with him during a time of reflection after he had co-founded a financial startup in Israel—a venture that mixed elements of “The Wall Street Journal” and E-Trade, specially designed for the Middle Eastern audience.
By 2012, Danny was embarking on a new adventure in Palo Alto, crashing on friends’ couches and surviving on ramen and Costco samples.
Even with his modest lifestyle, he managed to make a bold investment, purchasing the domain owow.com for $1,500—previously associated with a women’s wrestling organization.
His first entrepreneurial project in the Bay Area was The Negev, a co-housing initiative co-created with his friend Alon Gutman, a Google engineer.
Although they had some success catering to niche themes, it wasn’t until 2017 that Danny and Alon brainstormed a business model that would ultimately become oWOW.
The duo aspired to transform the construction industry using prefabricated panels and mass timber, aiming to make building processes faster and more cost-effective.
Danny described their approach as akin to playing with Legos, emphasizing how standardizing design components can eliminate the need for custom, one-off solutions.
The Daily Grind
Under the oWOW name, Danny’s company has successfully built 500 residential units, recently achieving a major milestone with the completion of the 1510 Webster project, now the tallest mass timber apartment building in California.
Excitingly, they are gearing up for an even larger 28-story project next door, part of a grand vision including around 1,000 planned units across the Bay Area.
Danny’s day-to-day life is anything but relaxing.
Rising at 4:30 a.m. with often less than five hours of sleep, he has crafted a routine that keeps him energized.
After hitting the snooze button for a few moments, he dives into his emails, showers, and dresses.
His attire typically consists of jeans paired with an oWOW t-shirt or more formal clothing, depending on what’s on the agenda.
By 6:00 a.m., he reunites with the company’s pre-construction director to discuss timelines for their next project at 3403 Piedmont.
They have created a robust supply chain in Asia and aim to shorten their project lead times from eleven months down to eight.
Gratefully, a generous colleague often prepares breakfast, typically consisting of eggs and toast, which he relishes before participating in morning meetings starting at 7:00 a.m. These early discussions often unfold over video calls with team members situated in various locales, focusing on the innovative prefabricated systems designed to cut construction costs significantly.
At 8:00 a.m., the team gathers for a quick five-minute daily scrum to outline their objectives and any potential roadblocks.
Following that, more in-depth business planning and critical path reviews take center stage.
By mid-morning, around 10:00 a.m., Danny often finds himself on-site for meetings involving owners, architects, and contractors.
These gatherings are lively, heated discussions where pressing issues are tackled head-on instead of being swept under the rug.
Danny’s intent is clear: make sure every concern is voiced and addressed.
A Commitment to Excellence
He aims to be back in the office by 11:00 a.m., though meetings sometimes extend longer than planned.
Much of this time involves conversations about their automated project delivery platform, which is designed to interpret zoning laws and generate building designs automatically.
When lunchtime rolls around, it often overlaps with additional meetings.
Danny enjoys dining at local favorites like Sam’s in San Francisco or the quick service at the Oakland Grill, where he jokes about wanting to see himself along the likes of local sports legends on the wall.
As the afternoon unfolds, Danny engages in job site inspections with superintendents to tackle construction challenges.
His later meetings typically focus on crafting new strategies, forming partnerships, and identifying project opportunities, followed by one-on-one discussions with team members.
Describing his day, Danny emphasizes how tightly packed his schedule is, filled with back-to-back meetings.
Remarkably, he maintains high energy levels throughout most days, though a disappointing outcome—such as losing a critical wager on timelines—can occasionally bring him down.
Regardless, he always looks ahead, seeing each day as a fresh opportunity.
Once evening sets in, around 8:30 p.m., Danny carves out time for exercise, often going for runs or boxing to decompress.
Occasionally, he returns to the office to connect with local bar staff or to catch up on work.
His day usually closes somewhere between 10:30 p.m. and midnight, depending on the evening’s obligations.
Although he’s considered relocating to the Marina district in San Francisco, his packed schedule leaves little room for apartment hunting.
In every aspect of his life, Danny embodies a philosophy of aiming high, bringing energy and commitment into his work and leisure alike.
Source: TheRealDeal