What do you actually do?
As a systems and network management consultant, my time is divided between helping clients on their own site, and teaching classes. As the director of my own company, I have all the fun of chasing bills, keeping the books and making the coffee (as well as paying dividends to myself).
What is the name of your company?
Skills 1st Ltd
How did you get to where you are now?
At A level I did Maths, Further Maths and Physics. Then I went to Reading University and did Computer Science (very unusual among my peers, then & now!).
On graduating in Computer Science from Reading, I was offered the post of Microcomputer Analyst at Reading. This was just pre-PC era and an exciting time to be entering the profession. I worked for 11 years with IBM as a technical specialist and then started my own company offering systems and network management consultancy and training.
6 years in academia, followed by 11 years with IBM gave me a very varied background both in technology and business, without which I certainly wouldn't have started my own company.
What do you like best about your job?
The best part of my job is being my own boss. There are lots of down-sides (like doing all the company administration) but I really am in control of my own destiny. I particularly like doing a mixture of consultancy and teaching; they require different skills and both have their own rewards. I also get a mixture of working from home (no travel costs either financial or time-wise) and working on customer sites, sometimes abroad. I have had short periods working in most European countries and also taught in Beijing.
What would your top tips be to a 16-year old considering working in this field?
If you think IT is hard and nerdy, you are half right! It is not easy working in a fast-moving technical field but it is fun and rewarding (practically and financially). Most computing projects are fulfilled by teams of people so you get to learn alongside more experienced people. As a female in the IT industry, I have never felt at any disadvantage whatsoever. There are lots of different aspects to IT so just go for it. Starting with a large firm is a good way to sample the many different areas.
Tell us something about yourself.
I have always enjoyed puzzles – jigsaws, Sudoko, etc. I have also always enjoyed walking. I now have a job which is all about solving technical puzzles. I grant myself 7 weeks holiday a year and our company generates sufficient revenue so that my partner and I spend them walking in the Lake District, the Scottish Highlands, the Swiss Alps and the New Zealand Southern Alps. What more could a body ask for?
