For many professionals, the journey into technology is not linear. As the tech industry grows and evolves, many workers are finding new opportunities to grow their careers in tandem.
For working women — a demographic historically underrepresented in STEM professions — discovering a career in technology later in life may be more likely than their male colleagues. According to data from Women in Tech, women held 35 percent of technology jobs in the United States in 2023, but women account for only 22 percent of engineering and computer science degrees.
Built In Colorado had the opportunity to speak to five women working in technology about the unique experiences, connections and lessons that led them to their current career path. Finding their way to technology through hands-on experiences, networking and mentor relationships, their journeys highlight the growing accessibility of technology — and the importance of the unique and diverse perspectives that drive tech forward.
Red Canary is a security software company that empowers security operations teams to detect, respond to and manage potential threats across their networks.
Tell us about your current role. What first sparked your interest in that field?
I’m currently the president at Red Canary, a leading cybersecurity company dedicated to ensuring organizations can focus on their mission without being disrupted by a cyber attack. I’ve been in tech since 2008 — hard to believe it’s been 16 years — but I didn’t start my career here. I actually got my undergraduate and graduate degrees in urban planning and spent the first few years after college focused on economic development, real estate development and finance.
As a consultant, one of my primary responsibilities was to help local communities across the country determine which industries they should recruit to their community and help tech companies figure out where to put new facilities or headquarters. It was incredibly interesting, and that was my intro to the field. Ultimately, my first tech job was as the chief of staff to the president of Hoover’s, a Dun and Bradstreet subsidiary that was one of the original leaders in the sales intelligence space.
Tell us about your journey into tech. Were there any challenges or lessons learned along the way?
Since my foray into tech was almost accidental, I didn’t understand any of the dynamics — good and bad — of the industry at first. I think this was a huge advantage for me because I was absolutely naive and fearless coming in. I just wanted to come in, solve interesting problems, work at a fast pace, build a strong team and see the results of my efforts. That has been exactly what tech has been for me, but it certainly hasn’t been without challenges.
In those first few years, I had expertise challenges, especially since I was not technically coming into the field. I didn’t even know what product management was when I was supporting my first product management leader. I dove in and applied an “always be learning” mentality to overcome my imposter syndrome, but it took a while to feel competent in a conversation where APIs and the merits of on-prem versus SaaS were debated.
Additionally, there were seniority challenges. I was one of the youngest leaders on the leadership team from my first role onward, so that — coupled with often being the only female in the room — unfortunately drove some insecurity on my end and bad behavior from some of my teammates that I didn’t know how to handle.
What programs or people helped you along the way? How do you help others move their careers forward?
There are too many to mention in this article! My early managers in tech believed in me even though I was hired into a role I had never done before. My early board members invested in my professional development with advisors and leadership programs, and later, as I moved into C-level positions, I worked tirelessly with an executive coach to help me really work on my challenged areas.
I am a firm believer that having deep confidence and reliance on our strengths take us 80 percent of the way to our goals, but reaching 100 percent requires that we take a hard look at our weaknesses, get brutally honest with ourselves and find energy around self-improvement and proactively asking for and truly wanting feedback.
“Having deep confidence in our strengths takes us 80% of the way to our goals, but reaching 100$ requires a hard look at our weaknesses.”
Today, I view my entire job as president as simply to make my team successful. My formula for doing that? Create clarity on what matters most, remove obstacles that are in the way, drive cross-team trust and alignment, offer timely commendation and constructive feedback and create an environment where teammates feel safe to take risks, make mistakes and be themselves.
Dynatrace offers a platform with end-to-end AI operations to automate, streamline and support a variety of IT programs and operations.
Tell us about your current role. What first sparked your interest in that field?
I currently lead a large team of early-stage sales professionals, supporting top-of-funnel pipeline creation for our North America and Latin America enterprise and strategic sales teams at Dynatrace. I’ve been in sales since I was able to have a job. As I got older, I discovered that I also wanted to teach others. Combining these two passions led me to pursue a role in sales leadership.
Tell us about your journey into tech. Were there any challenges or lessons learned along the way?
One of my first jobs after college was in finance. I knew immediately that I was not interested in that space. As I launched my job search, it was very clear that the tech space was more dynamic, much more employee-centric and generally more in line with my personality.
My first job in tech was in public relations. Unfortunately, I got laid off quickly after that company acquired another business. While getting laid off is never fun, it opened me up for an opportunity with an incredible company, cutting-edge and industry-changing technology and the launch of my sales career. There I learned so much of what I needed to be able to understand how sales teams run, as well as what good and bad management looks like. I got lucky starting with a huge team and a massive quota — when you’re thrown into the ocean, you have to swim. I’ve had some challenging shifts to new industries, teams and promotions, but I embraced the fear and believed in myself.
“When you’re thrown into the ocean, you have to swim. I’ve had some challenging shifts to new industries, teams and promotions, but I embraced the fear and believed in myself..”
What programs or people helped you along the way? How do you help others move their careers forward?
Nothing trumps experience, but building a great network helped me along the way. The tech world is small and paths cross time and again over the years. My network includes some incredible people who have recognized talents in me that I wasn’t always able to see for myself. Their insights had trajectory-changing impacts on my career, and network referrals can be one of the best ways to find new opportunities. Sales trainers, managers, cross-functional co-workers and direct reports all contributed to me forging new paths and even moving to new cities.
For my team of early-stage sales professionals, I lead by example by working hard, acting with integrity and supporting those around me. I love to recognize new talents, amplify successes and push individuals to find their best path. All your professional experiences, whether good or challenging, will support growth and success provided you are open to receiving lessons and learning from them.
Contentful is a digital marketing, brand and content platform that allows customers to manage personalized and conversion-focused content at scale.
Tell us about your current role. What first sparked your interest in that field?
I currently lead an enterprise customer success team at a SaaS company specializing in headless CMS and personalization. My interest in customer success was sparked during my early career in sales when I discovered that I was more passionate about helping customers achieve their goals, deepening my product expertise and driving revenue growth than focusing on new business acquisition.
Tell us about your journey into tech. Were there any challenges or lessons learned along the way?
My journey into tech has been relatively straightforward, beginning in tech recruiting, progressing to sales and account management at tech startups and ultimately finding my ideal role in customer success at mid-sized SaaS companies.
Early in my job search, I made the mistake of deprioritizing my interest in the company’s product and customer base. I’ve since realized that the roles I enjoy most are those where I’m genuinely committed to helping customers reach their goals and truly believe in the product’s value. Now, when evaluating new job opportunities, one of my top three priorities is being passionate about the industry, the product and the end clients.
“When evaluating new job opportunities, one of my top three priorities is being passionate about the industry, product and the end clients.”
What programs or people helped you along the way? How do you help others move their careers forward?
Attending Women in Tech meetups and events early in my career was pivotal in boosting my confidence and helping me believe that I could succeed — like the amazing women I met in a predominantly male industry. Mentors also played a crucial role, offering guidance and sometimes tough love when things didn’t go as planned.
Now, I strive to support early career professionals by encouraging them to take as many risks as possible to discover what they truly enjoy and then wholeheartedly pursue it.
Peaksware is a company of software brands focused on supporting athletic and music training and education.
Tell us about your current role. What first sparked your interest in that field?
My current role is director of product management, where I manage a team of product managers and product designers who create software for creating, teaching and learning music. Before entering tech, I was a music teacher who utilized the software that MakeMusic, a Peaksware company, creates. My degrees are in music education and music performance. Teaching music and driving a lifelong passion for learning has always been my career motivation.
Making a pivot from teaching music in the classroom to edtech, where I was very familiar with the products and services, was a natural evolution of my career. I started my first tech role as a customer success manager and transitioned into a more technical role as a music production engineer and quality assurance technician, then landed into product management.
Tell us about your journey into tech. Were there any challenges or lessons learned along the way?
My path into tech was not linear. Starting my career overtook a lot of work, dedication and finding my way. When I saw an entry-level job posting at MakeMusic, I thought it would be the perfect way to get my foot in the door during a competitive job market. I loved the job and the people I was working with and thrived. It’s a very welcoming and energizing atmosphere. My background in music education and the entry-level job in tech gave me the foundation to learn and explore where I could go next.
The most significant challenge is constantly learning fast on your feet. Tech is continually changing, and you have to be able to understand and adapt quickly. That is also what makes the job so exciting to me. It draws many parallels to my previous teaching jobs. You need to be a lifelong learner. Thankfully, there are many resources online for gaining new skill sets. Prioritizing the skills that would make the most impact on my goals was key to making the most of my time.
Self-doubt was also a challenge at times. Finding and pursuing the opportunities when faced with criticism or an unexpected outcome was a necessary mind shift that kept my momentum.
What programs or people helped you along the way? How do you help others move their careers forward?
Mentors and networks have been integral to my success. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my current manager, who saw my potential early and brought me onto the product development team. I’m surrounded by outstanding leaders across MakeMusic and Peaksware where we learn so much from each other. We take training together and meet regularly. I’ve also leveraged a career coach to help me transition and grow into the leader I am today. I take advantage of local meetups in design and product management where I get to network with others, share my knowledge and learn from all the amazing tech companies in the area.
“Mentors and networks have been integral to my success.”
To pass on support to other career professionals, I often work with teachers who want to transition to tech or are in a new role they need to navigate. I am also a mentor for Global Women in Tech where I get to connect with women all over the world, walk through their goals and support them in their career journey.
Eventus Solutions Group is a customer data company that offers end-to-end software solutions and consultation services to help businesses improve their customer experience.
Tell us about your current role. What first sparked your interest in that field?
In my current role as a senior software engineer at Eventus Solutions Group, my work involves helping clients design and implement features within the CXone platform, troubleshoot issues and ensure that our clients’ needs are met with technology.
What has always sparked my interest in this field is my curiosity about how things work. From a young age, I was fascinated by the inner workings of technology. I would often watch my dad fix things, from cars to AC units, eagerly handing him tools and learning as I observed. This early exposure to problem-solving instilled in me a desire to understand the mechanics behind systems. The satisfaction of solving problems is what keeps me engaged and passionate about my role. Each day presents a new puzzle to solve, and the process of identifying the issue, exploring possible solutions and implementing an effective fix is what I love most about being in tech.
“The satisfaction of solving problems is what keeps me engaged and passionate about my role.”
Tell us about your journey into tech. Were there any challenges or lessons learned along the way?
My journey into tech began in an unexpected way — as a tape librarian. I assisted IBM technicians when robotic systems malfunctioned. This exposure to hands-on problem-solving helped me transition into various roles such as computer operations where I was responsible for keeping the mainframe jobs running smoothly, which further deepened my interest in technology. I shifted to server- and client-side work focusing on networking. I eventually supported networks, servers and telecom globally.
The constant evolution of technology always kept me on my toes, pushing me to keep learning and expanding my skill set. Being in a male-dominated field was challenging as a woman. Often, people wanted to do things for me rather than with me, which made it difficult to fully engage and learn. I realized I needed to ask more questions and show my interest through actions rather than words. I had supporting coworkers and vendors who guided me along the way. Balancing work and life while keeping up with the rapid pace of technological changes has always been a challenge, but it’s one that I’ve managed by staying curious and committed to continuous learning.
What programs or people helped you along the way? How do you help others move their careers forward?
Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to have many informal mentors who offered guidance and support when I needed it most. One significant experience was participating in Valle del Sol’s Hispanic Leadership Institute in Phoenix, a program designed to develop leadership skills for active community involvement. While I didn’t go on to serve on a nonprofit or government board, the program profoundly impacted me by teaching me the importance of leading by example. This experience has shaped my approach to mentorship and professional development.
I’ve come to understand the value of passing along the support I received to others. Whether it’s through one-on-one mentoring, sharing knowledge or encouraging others to take on new challenges, I make it a priority to support early career professionals in their growth. By leading with empathy and providing practical guidance, I aim to help them navigate their own journeys and succeed in their chosen paths.
