Could you go without water? Thousands faced this reality—until one woman's tech skills and big heart changed everything.

Tiffani Ashley Bell is a software engineer who, one morning, saw an article about Detroit residents losing their water because they couldn’t pay their bills. It bothered her more than she expected. These were real people—families, kids, the elderly—facing a crisis over something as basic as water. She had to do something.

With her coding skills and determination, Tiffani started a side project. She built a simple platform to help connect people who needed help paying their water bills with those who could donate. She called it The Human Utility.

It started small. A few donations trickled in, and a few bills were paid. But the stories kept coming. People wrote in to say how much it meant to them. For many, it wasn’t just about the money—it was about knowing that someone cared enough to help. Tiffani’s platform gave them hope.

Balancing her day job in tech with running The Human Utility was tough. The work was demanding, and there were moments when it felt overwhelming. But every time she saw another story of a family helped, it kept her going.

Today, The Human Utility has paid water bills for thousands of people. What began as a simple side project became a mission that transformed Tiffani’s life. She didn’t set out to be a hero, but her willingness to act made a difference for thousands of people.

Three career lessons from Tiffani Ashley Bell:

1. Trust your instincts: When something doesn’t sit right with you, it might be worth paying attention. Tiffani acted on a feeling that something needed to change, and it led to a project that impacted thousands.

2. Use what you know: You don’t need to be an expert in everything to make a difference. Tiffani used her existing skills as a software engineer to solve a real-world problem.

3. Start small: Big changes often begin with small actions. Tiffani’s side project grew into something much bigger because she was willing to start somewhere.

Tiffani’s story shows that even a simple idea can have a massive impact when you combine it with determination and a willingness to help. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most important work we do isn’t part of the plan—it’s what we feel compelled to do when we see a problem that needs solving.

My current AI tool stack:

→ Claude: My go-to for writing, brainstorming, and problem-solving

→ Visual Electric: For generating eye-catching visuals

→ GPT Engineer: I’m not technical but it’s fun to learn the principals. This thing is pretty powerful

This morning I posted a LinkedIn video sharing two things that often surprise people about me.

One of them is especially for the introverts out there.

Tiffani's journey resonates with what we're building at Coho.

Sometimes, the most impactful career moves come from following your instincts and leveraging your unique skills to solve real problems.

That's why we're creating peer groups where you can:

→ Bounce ideas off people who get it

→ Get honest feedback from those who've been there

→ Build a network that goes beyond superficial connections

Interested in joining a Coho peer group?

We're currently forming new groups.