What personal characteristics do you think are important for a successful career in tech?

I believe that curiosity, initiative, and communication skills are essential for having a successful career in the IT industry.  

Technology is an ever-changing field and curiosity about the ins and outs of existing technologies and a desire to learn new and evolving technologies is critical to staying competitive. Initiative (combined with curiosity) is key to seeking out solutions to issues, understanding root problems, and taking on things outside of your comfort zone. Communication skills are crucial to being able to surface your ideas effectively to be able to enact change within an organization. The most successful IT professionals have great communication skills that enable them to distill the most complex problems and solutions into an easily digestible language and give them context within the business view.  

What do you think is the biggest misconception about careers in tech?

The biggest misconception people often have is that you will be stuck in front of a computer all day in isolation.  

What do you find most exciting about a career in tech?

There are a lot of exciting aspects to careers in tech. In my role, I support mission critical IT systems for a government Department of Defense mission.  I lead a team that ensures the safety, security, and availability of data for the military health system which in turn supports veterans, active duty service members, and beneficiaries.  What I love most is how I can directly see how my work makes an impact to improve their lives.

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