My career pivot back to technology

A couple of years ago, I was having a routine conversation with a financial specialist. He started a sentence with a throwaway comment which shook me to my core. “Since you’ll be working another 30 years...” (and then I pretty much lost what he said after that.) Cue the drama in my head. Oh crap! Am I working another 30 years? Now comes the close up of my face. The shock and horror! I was struck dumb (the most severe of my reactions.) You see, I was happy with my colleagues and in my job, but when I thought about the next 30 years, I wanted to make my mark on the future of work. I knew that this business-side professional had a role to play in technology.

My mantra has been something that has fueled and fit me for some time: “Make big ideas a reality. Help teams love the journey.” And it was never so clear as when I explored various roles in technology, and considered the options and stepping stones out there. Ultimately I found a role as a part of my firm’s Agile team, joining as an Agile coach. To say that Agile principles and values, which I first got to learn about more than 15 years ago, were an incredible source of inspiration and foundation for my mantra is an understatement. Embracing continuous learning, the focus on human connection, the partnership between business and technology, I have had so much fun coming into work each day.

The future of work is certainly digital, but it’s also human. I may not know what it will look like, but I fully believe in helping people continuously learn and improve while striving to do big things. It’s been nearly a year since I jumped onto this new path, and I look ahead at the next 30 years with a spring in my step.