What personal characteristics do you think are important to have for a successful career in tech?
To be successful in technology you do not necessarily need to have a degree in Engineering, Biology, or Mathematics – you do, however, need to have a curious mind, a desire to solve problems and create efficiencies, and the ability to ask the right questions. No one knows the answer to every problem, but staying motivated, innovative, and resourceful will provide you with the tools you need to succeed and develop a dynamic approach to technical problem-solving.
At what age or stage did you realize that a career in tech was something you wanted to pursue?
I do not think there was a point in time where I purposefully pursued a career or opportunity in tech. I am fortunate to work for a great company that allowed me to take opportunities that developed my interests and skills, specifically in coding and analytics, that eventually led to a technical role. I love problem solving, working in a team environment, and am very detail oriented, so the more I recognized that my strengths would provide an advantage in a more technical capacity, the more I wanted to pursue those opportunities. It was more of a progression than a strategy, but the interest was always there – my company just provided me with the tools, mentors, and roles to meet my potential and push me out of my comfort zone into tech and analytics.
What do you think is the biggest misconception younger people have about pursuing a career in tech?
I think many young people think tech is a narrower field than it is, or that you must have a background in a highly technical area to succeed – which is not the case. As technology advances in product and process, there are so many opportunities to serve in a technical capacity – you just need to be willing to explore prospects outside of your comfort zone. Anyone can learn to code, or use visualization software – and these are valuable skills in today’s market. Just because you are not an engineer, scientist or mathematician by trade does not mean tech is not an option – just be willing to learn, work hard, and stay curious.
What do you find most exciting about a career in tech?
The most exciting part about working in tech is how quickly things change and how much opportunity there is to make a difference. Whether it is the tools we use, products we develop, or work processes, there are more creative and efficient resources than ever before. Being a part of the change and helping to shape what our company might look like in 5-10 years is both motivating and fulfilling.
What tech blogs or resources do you follow regularly?
I have a great manager who pushes us to read academic studies and articles about innovative phenomena, trends, and tools in our field. This forces us to stay current on the resources or metrics used by competitors and peers, as well as drives us to constantly question why we do things the way we do to see if there is a better or more innovative solution.
What motivates / inspires you to do what you do every day?
Working in a team environment doing work that truly matters and has a direct impact on the people of my company is both motivating and fulfilling. You spend a lot of your life at work, so it is important that you enjoy what you do – and I genuinely think my job is cool. Knowing that there is so much opportunity to impact the company and grow personally is inspiring to me, and helps me to stay motivated and interested in my field. 3 years ago, I would have never thought I would be in this position, and with all the opportunity in analytics right now, I am excited to see where I will be 3 years from now.
