Mapping the maze: Journeying through tech, networks, and women’s empowerment

Stepping into the tech industry often felt like entering a vast and intricate maze. Twisting paths, unexpected dead ends, and moments of uncertainty defined much of my journey. Yet, at every turn, there were opportunities to learn, to connect, and to rediscover my purpose. This is my story of navigating that maze—with all its hurdles and breakthroughs—to find not just a career but a community that empowers and inspires women in tech.

When I reflect on my career in technology, I like to say that it has been anything but a straight line. If you had asked teenage me where I imagined myself in the future, the answer would have been straightforward and definite. I knew I liked science, and I knew I wanted to attend North Carolina State University. But coding or anything remotely involving bits and bytes? No thanks. At the time, and honestly, even in my college years, the only image I had of tech was the quintessential programmer hunched over a keyboard, slicing through lines of code. That wasn’t me. 

Fast-forward to graduation in 2008, then my career started in sales. Before I knew it, I found my groove in leadership and training. I discovered a love for empowering others to be their best, and I took pride in helping people learn and grow. I worked in district training for retail, which probably would have been my long-term path if life hadn’t thrown a wrench into my plans. 

Losing a close friend to cancer had a profound impact on me. It forced me to reevaluate my life. Nights, weekends, and unpredictable hours at work no longer seemed tolerable, especially as I realized how much time I wanted to dedicate to my family and to myself. It was the push I needed to pivot, and I leaped into tech training. 

This was during the early days of the cloud boom—think AWS, Azure, Google. I’d sit with enterprise customers and hear them insist, “We’re not touching the cloud.” Six months later, those same companies knocked on our door, desperate for engineers with multicloud certifications. The buzz and growth of cloud technology were palpable. As part of my role, I trained on Microsoft, VMware, Cisco, Agile, and more. I realized how much I loved exploring new areas of tech, uncovering their constant evolution. 

However, career moves are as much about opportunity as they are about timing, and my story of joining NetApp feels like a perfect example of “right place, right time.” A dear friend had joined NetApp, and I started getting online ads for NetApp® cloud products. I joined NetApp right before the world shut down in 2020. Six weeks in, the offices closed, and suddenly, my job went remote before I’d even had a chance to learn all the ropes. 

Luckily, I’m self-driven and, frankly, incapable of sitting still. I dove headfirst into learning everything I could about the vast portfolio of NetApp solutions and products. That commitment has paid off, as it has allowed me to earn opportunities to grow within the organization, moving into different roles and challenges.  

It has been quite a ride, but not without its bumps. When a structural change affected my team at NetApp, I was out of a job. I say this loud and clear for anyone who has been through a layoff or who might be facing one now: The strength of your network can mean everything. When I got laid off, my network and those meaningful connections I'd built within the organization reached out to me. They had seen my work ethic, my contributions to NetApp Women in Technology (WIT) initiatives, and my passion. My current leader heard about the situation and didn’t hesitate to call me, saying, “I want you on my team.” Moments like that remind you how essential it is to have skills, to cultivate relationships, and to actively engage with others. 

That same principle applies to the work I do for WIT. I serve as a steering committee member, overseeing global events like International Women’s Day and Women’s HerStory Month. For me, they aren’t just celebrations; they’re opportunities to connect, to inspire, and to empower women across roles, regions, and backgrounds. Through WIT, I’ve had the privilege of working with finance, legal, marketing, and other teams, getting to know amazing people who are committed to making tech an equitable space. 

One of the biggest things I emphasize in conversations about WIT and women in tech is the importance of visibility and representation. It’s no secret that we’re still far from an equal split in tech fields, and the pandemic didn’t help. Many women in management and director roles had to step back because of their compound responsibilities of caregiving, homeschooling, and running their household. The reality is that the weight of those responsibilities still disproportionately falls on women. 

One lesson I’ve learned through my career is that honesty and transparency can make or break how you show up at work. I’m up-front with my priorities. My family—my daughter, my grandmother—comes first. Always. Being in a role where I can talk openly about it with my leader is essential, and I encourage others to set those boundaries, too. 

It’s also about leading by example. As a woman who’s heavily invested in her career and personal life, I know the importance of flexibility and empathy in leadership. I’ve seen firsthand how impactful it is to see each other fully as humans, not just as workers ticking off tasks. I remember sitting in the NVIDIA GTC conference a few years ago, watching Jensen Huang speak from his living room with his golden retriever clawing at the door behind him. It was a stark reminder that no matter how high up you are in a company, you’re still juggling life just like everyone else. 

Today, I thrive in a role at NetApp that spans the exciting world of AI and data-driven technologies. Rather than packaging AI as a one-size-fits-all solution, we focus on showcasing how our tools and services serve as powerful platforms for innovation. Whether I'm collaborating with customers or working alongside my teammates, my mission remains clear: to empower customers and partners to excel, to streamline their efforts, and to reclaim valuable time.  

At the core of everything I do, both in my job and in my commitments to WIT, is the belief that people make the difference. From those deep professional networks that have your back in tough times to empathetic leaders who see you as a whole person, these connections pull us through challenges and help us thrive.  

Whether you’re doubting your next career move or wondering whether you should keep pushing forward in tech, don’t underestimate the power of your network, your resilience, and, yes, your voice. Because your story, like mine, might inspire someone else to bet on themselves, to take a leap, and to lean into a community like WIT that believes in building each other up. 

Every twist and turn of my mazelike journey in tech have reminded me of one powerful truth: Resilience and connection can transform even the most daunting obstacles into stepping stones. Along the way, I’ve discovered the value of building a supportive network, leaning on mentors, and celebrating each small victory as they pave the path toward something greater. Learn more about NetApp Women in Technology.