Women in Technology: Meet Kelly

Marissa: Hi Kelly! How long have you been with Dataprise?

Kelly: I have been with Dataprise for 8 years now. It’s hard to believe it as it doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. I guess it’s true what they say – time flies when you’re having fun!

Marissa: Indeed, it does! Can you share a little bit about what you do and what a typical day for you is like?

Kelly: Working in technology, there’s no “typical” day – which is why I like it. I help clients evaluate their voice and data carriers and help them choose the right options for their business. I also support clients with day-to-day issues such as billing questions, escalations, and account changes. These days, a lot of clients are moving from traditional premised-based phone systems to cloud-based systems, so right now I’m doing a lot of phone system demos.

Marissa: That’s exciting, it sounds like your work keeps you on your toes! Can you tell us how you got into technology?

Kelly: I just sort of fell into it. After college I worked as a Flight Attendant for American Airlines. After five years of traveling, I decided I wanted a job with more traditional hours. My boyfriend at the time (now husband) is a Network Architect and he encouraged me to look at technology companies. I ended up getting a job as an Account Executive for a telecommunications company and I’ve been in the field ever since.

Marissa: Oh, interesting. Sound it sounds like you didn’t always know that working in technology was what you wanted to do.

Kelly: No, not at all. It’s funny, and I’m probably exposing my age here, but one of my first assignments in college was to send an email to the professor and I remember thinking, what IS that? I remember it was so intimidating. It’s funny to think about how much has changed in 20 years and how technology dominates our lives today.

Marissa: For sure. What is one piece of advice you’d give to young women looking to get into the technology field?

Kelly: I say go for it! There is so much opportunity and it’s continuing to grow. As a child, I still remember hearing the saying “Technology is the way of the future”, which still holds true today. Even if you are not a technical person, there is so much you can learn and so many avenues for you to pursue.

Marissa: What do you think is the best part of being a woman in the technology industry?

Kelly: There is a good number of women at Dataprise headquarters, so I sometimes forget how few of us there are in the industry as a whole. I think it’s good because we stand out and can offer a different perspective.

Marissa: What is it that you enjoy most about your current job at Dataprise?

Kelly: It’s hard to only pick one thing. I love working with my clients and my close-knit team. I also love that I have a good work-life balance, which allows me to have a fulfilling full-time job and be a mom to my two young sons, ages 3 and 5. I also love that things are always evolving in technology, so I am constantly learning about new technologies and solutions to help my clients.

Marissa: Where do you see yourself going from here?

Kelly: I have an interest in getting into project management and am currently taking an online introduction class. I see project management as an avenue for growth; the current projections are that the project management field will grow 33% by 2027!

Marissa: That’s awesomse! We look forward to your continued success. Thank you so much for letting us fesature you!