VP - Head of Information Technology in Software, 1,001 - 5,000 employees
I'm in IT mostly because I like technology and people ask me for help no matter what. My career literally started at the help desk because back in the late ‘90s, people would ask me for help and I'd be able to help them. Next thing you know, my career evolved into engineering and architecture and then leadership.AVP and Deputy CIO in Education, 10,001+ employees
I stumbled upon the Apple Macintosh in university in ‘86 and became hooked on tech. I found it was something I was really good at. It just came naturally and I became the person to answer everyone’s questions. It was my passion and I’m fortunate that I could make it my career. “Do what you love.” I still love the “techie” stuff, maintaining my home network, talking to family and friends about gadgets, and “geeking out” with the team. But I’ve long since been out of the daily operational aspect of IT, focusing on leadership and mentoring while connecting IT to the business mission… transforming IT from a service organization to an enterprise solution engine.
Senior IT Manager in Government, 10,001+ employees
My original degree was in Atmospheric Science/Meteorology. While I was doing a Masters degree I discovered I was spending ~20 minutes a day thinking about the science and 12 hours translating that into code (the Pascal P-System on an Apple II.. my how times have changed).That seemed backwards to me so I went back to school for a PhD in Comp Sci to see if I could figure out how to help other scientists use technology to solve hard problems.
I'm still working on it.
Executive Architect in Healthcare and Biotech, 10,001+ employees
Very cool Nick! My college co-op semesters were with NOAA in 1977 and 1978. I was part of the AFOS engineering team in Silver Spring. A tremendous experience!
Senior IT Manager in Government, 10,001+ employees
Thanks. NOAA is definitely a great place to work. I often say I get to work with really bright people doing really cool things, working to support a mission of critical importance to us all.
Associate Vice President, Information Technology & CISO in Education, 1,001 - 5,000 employees
To be honest, it was Napster... I wanted to pirate all the latest songs, and so I set out to build a new computer from scratch. Going through that process helped me learn the ins and outs of a computer. Needless to say I had one of the biggest MP3 collections out there... As I progressed with my understanding of computers and the internet, I got an interest in moving into computers in higher education. Unfortunately since I did not plan properly in highschool, I had no science or math courses under my belt! I was not fit for any computer science programs out there, so I had to find a loophole and get into a business degree focused in IT. From there, it was smooth sailing all they way to where I am today 👏CIO in Software, 51 - 200 employees
I chose IT as career in 1996 as a counter intuitive measure. I was doing M Tech in Industrial Engineering where I realized that next set of activities i.e. optimization and business value can be derived from IT system much more than time and motion studies. During M Tech - some of the projects I did and witnessed convinced me to take IT as a careerCTO in Software, 11 - 50 employees
Grew up on a farm in a small town in Iowa and knew early on that I hated farming. Started programming in High School thanks to a great Algebra teacher, majored in Computer Science and had a fantastic internship at Control Data Systems (dating myself) that quickly taught me the skills of SysAdmin/ITSenior Information Security Manager in Software, 501 - 1,000 employees
Always enjoyed computers and programming.And found accounting far too boring.
So IT is was.
Executive Architect in Healthcare and Biotech, 10,001+ employees
I was majoring in Electrical Engineering in the 70's but got hooked when I took a required programming course. Then I did a co-op stint with the government and I was doing data profiling, text analysis and network traffic simulations on mainframes and minis. I feel lucky to be part of the first generation that found ways to speed up and transform business processes across many industries and disciplines.Director, Information Security in Education, 1,001 - 5,000 employees
I began working in user support as an on campus student employee. When I graduated, the university was in the process of building a security team, and I was hired as a contractor to get that into place, and applied & was hired for a full time-permanent position within the team that was opening up once my contract was upBoard Member in Healthcare and Biotech, 1,001 - 5,000 employees
Providence. During my college days way back in early 80s a friend advised that I should look for a career in the field of computers. I didn’t think much about it but somewhere in the back of my mind there was a niggling thought “can I” ?After getting my degree in Physics the available opportunities dried quickly, and I happened to chance on a newspaper advertisement (the era before the internet) for applications for a Hardware Engineer. My interest in tinkering with electronics in school and college came in handy in the interview and I was in.
As a Field Engineer I aspired to be in the customers shoes - the EDP and IT Managers. Got myself a degree in Software Technology which made a great combination of Hardware and Software. Opportunities came for this unique combination and the rest is history.
The journey was exciting and if I had to relive my life, I would probably change nothing.
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