Accidentally in Tech
When I was in high school, I had it all figured out: going into the military, getting into emergency medicine as a medic, then heading off to college to become a surgeon. Or so I thought. Life, it turned out, had other plans. I blew out my ACL and was no longer eligible for the military, but still needed a way to support myself until I could get certified as an emergency medical technician (EMT). My first job ended up being as a data entry clerk for a logistics company. From there, I moved into more advanced administrative work before landing a full-time position at Intel as an Administrative Assistant.
It was a far cry from working as an EMT or a surgeon, but I tried to think of these types of jobs as stepping stones leading me on an unknown path.
In those early days at Intel, I found myself exploring website development to maintain our department site, leaning into my past experiences from childhood with my Tandy Computer and my mom’s career as a Common Business-Oriented Language programmer. I discovered that I really enjoyed solving problems and writing code to perform functions that used to be more manual. It was a sign that helped that unknown path start to feel a little less...unknown. My manager fostered my passion for programming and encouraged me to use tuition assistance to get a degree.
While working full time, all my free time was spent working towards an Associate’s in Computer Information Systems at Portland Community College. I earned this just months before having my first child. After taking an extended break to focus on balancing a newborn and full-time work, I found an online degree program that allowed me to finish my Bachelor’s, continue working, and have my second child. After this long and difficult path, I became the first in my family to achieve a college education.
At Intel, however, I reached a plateau: my growth was stagnating, but I didn’t want to transition into a management position. I was scared to leave a company that had supported me through major life events and didn’t know if I could “make it” at another company. Eventually, I decided to become more involved with networking events like PADNUG and speaking both at conferences and PDXWIT events. And it was at the 2017 Annual PDXWIT event that I came across Cambia. While the company wasn’t ultimately the right fit for me long-term, it had opened the door that allowed me to take the next major step in my career journey.
Getting ready to speak at Chain React 2019 which helped pave the path for Echobind
Getting ready to speak at Chain React 2019 which helped pave the path for Echobind
That step was Echobind. Because our family had relocated to rural Oregon, I knew I wanted to work for a company that was remote-first and that prioritized an inclusive culture (not just buzzwords on their company website). Remote from inception, Echobind had a culture that supported professional development and work-life balance. Within a few months, I was approached by leadership about taking a hybrid management role. Once again, I was faced with asking myself if I was on a path I was really interested in. But I was also in an environment where I could try it out while still keeping the more technical parts of my role. I took the leap. It wasn’t long before I found myself immersed in leadership topics and saying to my manager, “I guess I’m really passionate about this!” As someone with a love for people and relationships, it was a natural transition––and I had a world of support surrounding me, from my family to my team. I’ve since become their Director of Engineering, where I help develop future leaders.
If I could talk to the Jennifer who was taking her first steps on an unknown path, I would tell her two things. The first is that experimenting with new career paths can feel uncomfortable, but it doesn’t have to mean closing the door forever on an opportunity. Sometimes it may not feel like the right time, the right team, or the right company, but in the long run, it could be the right fit (and maybe even a passion!). The second is that while we don’t become a surgeon, we do eventually get that EMT certification, and pursue that in our free time.
Jennifer is the Director of Engineering at Echobind, with a passion for improving processes. Wife and mom of three, she resides in rural Oregon. In her free time, she is an Emergency Medical Technician and Volunteers with Girls Who Code. Connect with her on twitter or LinkedIn.