As I worked to get Delivery Artistry started and pinpoint the message, vision, and driving purpose, I began to reminisce on how I even got started in technology services and project management and more importantly, what drew me to the field in the first place. During my undergraduate studies, I attempted to minor in computer science. After spending an entire weekend trying to find what turned out to be a misplaced period in hundreds of lines of code, I figured technology just wasn’t going to cut it for me. I decided to focus on financial services and help people manage their money.
It was about a year after I graduated when my career headed in a different direction. I was working as a portfolio administrator for a financial services company, involved in a project to start migrating to a new client account opening system or “CAOS.” Little did I know, this was a premonitory acronym for the type of work that would ultimately define my career. The new process was rife with issues and causing angst for the compliance team. Determined to make sure I was successful using the new system, I analyzed the process and created my own personal workflow and rule set to ensure the desired outcomes were met. I fell in love with process optimization, but didn’t even know that was a “thing.”
In my graduate program, they required a couple of IT electives and so I signed up for a class on IT management and strategy. There was no coding involved at all. We read and analyzed case studies that explored the various ways in which IT enabled and oftentimes disrupted organizations and entire markets. We ran simulations to test out various management decisions and the outcomes that followed. I was hooked. This aspect of technology, understanding and applying its strategic value, redefining operations, launching new products and services, it was all fascinating. I changed my concentration and began what has been an amazing journey in the world of information technology project delivery. I never once looked back.
My first job that really focused in this area of strategy and information technology delivery was with a boutique start-up consulting firm, Blue Slate Solutions. I’ve never been as happy in my career as I was with the Blue Slate team. They were a young company made up of seasoned professionals whose level of aptitude and capability was extremely intimidating and that was a new experience for me. There was so much to learn, people to learn from and no limits to what you could do and contribute to. Your position with the company wasn’t based on a job title, it was based on your aptitude, desire, and personal commitment. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but it was perfect enough.
I remember sitting in one of my first client meetings as a junior consultant, supporting in a business analysis capacity. The project lead was modeling business processes on the fly during the discussions asking all sorts of questions, diagramming information and with an ease and fluency that captivated me. The initial client meetings led to strategy development and implementation plans, the precision, organization and structure was actually inspiring and motivational. Order, organization, and planning was in my DNA and I had finally found a professional avenue that was the right fit. I dug in and set my sights on developing the skills and knowledge necessary to one day be that project lead.
More to come, as this was just the beginning! Stay tuned for my next vignette, as I walk down memory lane and share my journey, my story and what’s in store in the years to come.
