Can you give me a brief overview of your career to date?
I initially completed a Bachelor of Biotechnology Engineering in India, but I always had a keen interest in software engineering. So, once I graduated from university, I immediately started working in the IT industry. 15 years later, I have had an amazing, fulfilling career in IT, working in various roles including development, testing and consulting. Currently, I am an AWS cloud and lead consultant at Cevo.
What sort of work do you do at Cevo?
Since starting my journey at Cevo over a year ago, I have been involved in some really exciting projects. My main interests lie in projects dedicated to modern data engineering. Currently, I lead many of the data engineering projects in NSW, while also working as a lead consultant for DataOps and MLOps projects.
Part of my role also involves working with our client directors on pre-sales activities, where I get the opportunity to meet new and prospective customers. Not only has this experience allowed me to connect with prospective customers and better understand their technology and business needs, but it has also provided me with a different perspective on technology, making it something I love to do alongside my existing projects.
I am also a Pod Leader, meaning I’m given the opportunity to help support and grow the professional journeys of a group of our consultants.
What do you love most about working at Cevo?
At Cevo, your individual interests – whether it’s the industries or customers you’re most interested in, or the tech stack you want to work with – are truly acknowledged, understood and addressed. A common interest shared among the consultants is innovation, and it’s at the core of what we do daily. We’re given the opportunity to work with the latest, modern day cloud technologies, which allows us to keep exploring and learning.
Cevo’s culture also promotes a true sense of community and a willingness to help and support one another. Not only does this culture make Cevo a place I love to work, but it has a positive impact on our customers and the outcomes of their projects.
Cevo’s Pod Program is a great example of that culture in action. The Pod Program is an initiative designed to bring like-minded people together with a focus on professional development and career progression, and to help us build relationships across the business. As a Pod Leader, I am in charge of helping to nurture other consultants and provide advice when they need it. I love to see the Pod Program ensuring everyone is looked after, which is particularly important for those who are new to consulting.
What moment are you most proud of in your career to date?
In 2021, I was selected as a finalist in the ARN Women In ICT Awards (WIICTA) in the technical category. I am grateful to Cevo for providing me with the opportunity to showcase my work on a bigger platform and to be introduced into the wider women in IT community.
Thinking about the tech industry in general, what do you think it does well to encourage women into these roles?
The great thing about the IT industry is that it provides everyone the freedom to work from anywhere. Access to these flexible working conditions is particularly important for women, and we continue to work towards a place where people can manage work around their families and other important commitments.
There is also a lot of training available, meaning that it’s easy for women to take a career break, upskill in particular areas, or move between roles. The thing that I love about IT is that it truly offers something for everyone, and the industry is never stagnant – it’s continuously changing and evolving.
What could the tech industry do better?
I would encourage the IT industry to continue to provide more programs to encourage women into technology roles, whether that’s targeted towards students who are looking for their first job out of university, or going back to work after maternity leave. More diversity programs will enable us to continue to reach more females and communicate the benefits of a career in IT. Programs like ARN’s WIICTA does a great job of helping to inspire more women to work towards the lead roles and top management levels within IT.
What advice would you give to other women considering entering the industry?
- There is truly something for everyone in IT. If you don’t think a technical role is right for you, I would encourage you to explore the other options available. On the technical side, there are roles within development, testing, consulting, and more. While, on the non-technical side, skills such as business analysis, program management and product management are also in high demand.
- I would also encourage women to think about the long term career opportunities that are available in IT. There’s almost infinite opportunity for growth, with various training programs available to help you continue to develop and refine your skills. Particularly in the cloud tech space, the ongoing development means that there’s always scope to improve and learn, while simultaneously opening doors to more opportunities.
If you’re interested in learning more about what it’s like to work at Cevo, please reach out here and one of our friendly People & Culture team members will be in touch.
