Who helped you get to where you are today?

A number of people have been instrumental, firstly my parents who always taught me that anything is possible!

I had some great mentors along the way who were interested in my growth, and helped me to learn how to identify the right opportunities and then go from there.

Above all ... I’m a very determined individual, and I refused to give up. My passion for healthcare has driven me to keep on trying, keep on fighting and to keep going.

What excites you about working in a tech role?

The fact that it opens up possibility in any sector, which has long lasting impact on peoples lives. We can save life with tech, protect the environment, and make better informed decisions, and the best thing is that tech continues to evolve so there is always something new, something even better around the corner.

What advice would you give to someone looking to begin a career in tech?

Don’t be afraid to try several different roles in tech and then decide which suits you best. Often times, perception from the outside in is different to reality in this industry, but the great thing is that it’s perfectly fine to take the time and find your best role.

Do you feel like there is a lot of opportunity in this industry?

Massively yes, the opportunities are endless as technology touches everything and everyone. Technology is the birthplace of innovation and creativity, and it straddles every industry out there.

What do you think will be the next big trend in tech?

We will see continued innovation in mixed reality and the application of that across industries such as healthcare, construction, manufacturing etc.

The sharing of data in a secure, safe way is also a driving force right now... and systems and industries are collaborating more and more in this space, so I see even more attention and tech solutions being developed to enable this cross collab.

What educational path did you follow?

You know, for personal reasons I wasn’t able to go to university... so actually, I’m self-taught. I’m very inquisitive by nature, and always ask questions, and am keen to learn new things so I’ve combined my real life experience alongside industry training / courses in my career.

Did role models play a part in you choosing your job / career?

Actually, no... I ended up in technology almost by accident after an initial temping contract that was only supposed to last 4 weeks, and here I am almost 30 years later still in tech!

Sometimes, life takes us on a journey we didn’t map out for ourselves, but because we are nosey, interested and curious about the doors around us ... we go and knock on them and open them to see what’s on the other side!