You originally came from Bluetree, which is now part of Sicra. How have you experienced the merger?
I think everything looks very promising so far, and I’m excited about what lies ahead. I feel that Bluetree and Sicra are a great match and complement each other well in several areas. I’m looking forward to being part of a larger professional community, working with more colleagues, and seeing what opportunities may arise as a result of the merger.
What do you work with, and which technologies do you use in your role today?
I work with networking, focusing on building strong, reliable solutions that stand the test of time. In my day-to-day work, I primarily work with Cisco technologies, including SD-WAN, Secure Firewall, ISE, and various LAN and WAN solutions. Previously, I worked with Versa SD-WAN, and through volunteer work I’ve also gained experience with Arista, Juniper, and Palo Alto technologies.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
My day usually starts with an iced coffee, the right music, and a review of the plan for the day. What that plan contains varies greatly. When it comes to tasks, there really is no typical workday. No two days are exactly alike, and that’s something I truly appreciate.
What does success mean to you in a professional context?
To me, success means delivering solutions that work as expected, both from my perspective and the customer’s. That means creating a robust, well-documented solution that supports both the organization and its users while meeting the expectations established from the start.
Behind every successful solution is a significant amount of work, including discovery, expectation management, clear communication, and finding the right technical approach.
What motivates you most in your work, and what do you find most rewarding?
I’m motivated by problem solving, whether that means designing new solutions, improving existing ones, or troubleshooting issues. If I get the chance to learn something new along the way, even better.
Do you have a favorite quote?
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, J. R. R. Tolkien
Is there a book you would recommend?
These days, I would recommend Thinking Machines by Inga Strümke.
The book provides an excellent overview of both the history of artificial intelligence and insights into how the technology works. It offers a technical yet down-to-earth perspective on what AI actually is. It also highlights real challenges related to today’s technology and how it is used, without becoming overly dystopian. The author’s enthusiasm for the subject shines through, even when discussing serious concerns.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our dog. I also like working on creative projects, big and small, and I dream of having my own little woodworking workshop someday.
Do you have a fun fact about yourself?
It was modding The Sims in the early 2000s that sparked my interest in IT.
Interesting! What is modding in The Sims, and how did it spark your interest in IT?
For me, it started with fairly simple modifications to the game. I added things that weren’t part of the original game, such as furniture and clothing, or changed how certain game rules worked, including where and how you were allowed to build.
As I discovered not only that the game could be modified, but also how to do it, a whole new world opened up for me as a 12-year-old. It led me down the rabbit hole of creating my own modifications and eventually building my own websites.
That interest led me to study IT in high school and attend The Gathering for the first time in 2006.
It was there that I first discovered the networking field, and I have attended The Gathering almost every year since. For 12 of those years, I have also been part of the Tech Crew. Along the way, it has turned into a 16-year career in IT, most of it focused on enterprise networking.
All because 12-year-old me wanted cooler clothes in The Sims.
