What made you realize you wanted to pursue a career in technology?
I have been fascinated with how things work, new inventions, and math and science my entire life, so it’s no surprise I became an engineer. In my elementary years, I remember visiting the work location of a friend’s father and seeing a very large IBM computer that filled a room — I was in awe. Years later, in junior high, I was so excited that the high school offered a summer course to teach DOS and programming on the brand-new Radio Shack 386s. I loved it and was so excited about anything related to computers. I think it planted a seed then. Of course, being a kid, I was enamored with how all things worked and new inventions. I started engineering school in aerospace and mechanical and spent years in other industries before finding my way back to the IT space. What a fantastic time to be in this industry!
What three adjectives would you use to describe your journey in the industry so far?
Courageous, transformative, and versatile.
What is your personal mantra?
“Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon.” — Anonymous
Describe the highest point in your career so far and how you got there, including all the hurdles you had to jump (and the ones you tripped over and too).
I would say I am at my highest point in my career right now — in this time and in what I am currently doing at Vertiv. The hurdles came in all shapes and sizes: growing up in heavily male-dominated industries, like automotive and IT, and paving a successful path within them; navigating strategy and transformation in a Chapter 11 company and surviving to tell the tale; and navigating role expansions and the need (real or imagined) to constantly prove myself in every role change and promotion, every company change and industry change. I also had to overcome that “If you didn’t do it here, you didn’t do it” mindset within some company cultures. Every hurdle was hard-fought, and I am grateful for the challenges, as they made me stronger and enabled me to share that with generations coming up behind me, so their paths may be a bit lighter. I am also grateful for the mentors and opportunities along the way who believed in me.
What is your most admirable quality?
Authenticity — I make it a priority to be as real and relatable to everyone and to demonstrate actions that match my words. I find that people appreciate this, as it builds relationships and trust as a leader.