How did you find your place in Tech?

My desire to learn and attention to detail

Any tips for newcomers to Tech?

Always be willing to learn new things. 

Tech is constantly evolving and there's always something new to learn as long as you are willing to put the work in to do it.

What's one challenge that turned out to be easier than you initially believed it to be?

Going through the process of obtaining a security clearance. 

I didn't know anyone who had a security clearance so it was uncharted territory and I didn't know what to expect.

How did you find your place in Tech?

Political Science & Anthropology are two fields that heavily rely on research and taking initiative. 

The ability to roll up your sleeves to learn new things & self-start is instrumental in succeeding.

Any tips for newcomers to Tech?

Be creative with your job search. You will find that you can apply your skills to a multitude of different career opportunities.

What's one challenge that turned out to be easier than you initially believed it to be?

Getting into Cloud was a lot easier than initially perceived. 

I started out as an Inside Account Manager at a tech Value Added Reseller & made the leap to focus on AWS. 

How did you find your place in Tech?

Personal Skills & Work Ethic - I worked from the ground up.

Any tips for newcomers to Tech?

Don't settle until you find something that speaks to you, be excited for what you do.

What's one challenge that turned out to be easier than you initially believed it to be?

As a person without a college degree, I felt I had to over extend myself to prove that I belong here in Tech. Instead I found that being myself was good enough. 

I created relationships and people trust me. Being myself has created a trust with my colleagues knowing they can come to me with any problem or issue and I will help find a solution.

How did you find your place in Tech?

Studying Advanced Hardware, Trouble Shooting Peripherals, TCP/IP, Networking & Microsoft Operation Systems

Learning various Cloud funding programs has allowed me to save my customers money on their cloud migrations.

Any tips for newcomers to Tech?

Be confident in your abilities. Take advantage of any training offered.  If you don’t know the answer, ask for help. 

Be open to new opportunities. 

The most significant piece of advice is to stay positive, don't allow negativity in and always smile!

Personally, why Tech?

Ever since I can remember, I've been curious to learn how computers work. The 1st time I opened the box, I was mesmerized by all the small parts and how it all worked together. 

I haven't looked back, I knew that I wanted to work in Technology in any capacity.

What's one challenge that turned out to be easier than you initially believed it to be?

I started my career in Cloud as a Service Analyst. My goal was to move into a Cloud Business Development Manager role. 

I thought the road would be long and hard, I was wrong. I was given a chance by working hard and proving myself valuable.

How did you find your place in Tech?

My certification (especially Technical labs) helped me by opening up many job opportunities.

I tried out temporary jobs and learned how to troubleshoot different issues so I was great at explaining scenarios during interviews.

Any tips for newcomers to Tech?

I loved doing contract work & gigs (temporary work), it allowed me to work in a variety of tech departments. 

That helped me decide what I enjoyed doing the most. 

Personally, why Tech?

I have always been the “fix it” person in the family. I love technology because it changes so often, there is always something new to learn.

How did you find your place in Tech?

My accounting background provided me with the knowledge needed to understand financial reporting. 

I used that to help me understand the complex billing and operation models for Cloud. 

Any tips for newcomers to Tech?

Technology is always evolving. 

Take the time to continue learning and developing new skills. Every new skill you learn will pave your way for endless opportunities in Tech.

Be open to new opportunities. 

The most significant piece of advice is to stay positive, don't allow negativity in and always smile!

Personally, why Tech?

I'm always interested in learning about new technology coming to market and analyzing what has changed over time. 

What's one challenge that turned out to be easier than you initially believed it to be?

I thought transitioning from an accounting position to a team focused on supporting cloud customers from the onboarding phase to ongoing cloud spend management was going to be challenging. 

I tapped into my desire to learn to help gain the knowledge needed around the various cloud concepts and processes.