IT Career Energizer

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Rick Claus. Rick is a Microsoft Developer Advocate on the Azure engineering team. His role is to connect with technical communities in order to share his knowledge about the ecosystem and capture feedback on how to make things better. He has worked in the IT industry for more than 20 years, working on Core Azure infrastructure services, Windows Server, systems management and all things “cloud” In this episode Phil and Rick discuss why you need to challenge yourself to learn, the potential of new technologies to make our lives easier and why you should try to work with people smarter than you.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (5.21) TOP CAREER TIP Rick says that career advice is often specific to the individual. However what has worked for him is to continue to stay curious but also challenging yourself to continue to learn. Rick approaches everything as someone new to the industry which helps to maintain his level of excitement and curiosity.   (6.56) WORST CAREER MOMENT Rick describes his involvement in a mass desktop refresh rollout project for a customer when working as a consultant. The rollout was taking place in fourteen different locations and was being delivered by a distributed team. Unfortunately they left the most difficult part of the rollout to the very end. They thought that they could apply everything they had learnt from earlier rollouts to the final rollout.     (10.31) CAREER HIGHLIGHT Rick talks about having recently become the lead for his team. Watching the team being able to be successful doing things he used to do but in different and creative ways. Rick gets a lot of satisfaction from enabling them to engage with IT professionals, speak at conferences, create videos and other content.   (11.52) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T Rick is excited by seeing people starting to understand the potential of new technologies that will make their lives easier. Rick also explains how organisations are recognising that they have the ability to pivot and add these new technologies to their existing portfolio.   (16.00) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – The constant challenge. Rick loves problem solving, trouble shooting and making people’s environments better for them. What’s the best career advice you received? – Hire people that are smarter than you. What’s the worst career advice you received? – Nothing specific. However Rick has a degree that he doesn’t use anymore. What would you do if you started your career now? – Stay focused on the solutions and how they help individuals. What are your current career objectives? – Providing guidance and clarity to his team. What’s your number one non-technical skill? Rick talks about his theatre background and the skill of being able to convey information through stories How do you keep your own career energizer? – Constantly go off and learn. What do you do away from technology? – Rick is an avid home brewer.   (20.51) FINAL CAREER TIP Don’t forget to invest in your own skills and your own self beyond the technology space. Rick also talks about the importance of mentoring.   BEST MOMENTS (14.04) – Rick - “Technology in the world of IT is constantly in change and we have to deal with that change. Be prepared for it” (16.50) – Rick - “Hire people that are smarter than you. Together as a team you’re going to be stronger” (17.27) – Rick - “Stay focused on the solutions and how they help individuals”   ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organisations to design, develop and implement software solutions. Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers. And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey.   CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast’s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community in Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer   ABOUT THE GUEST – RICK CLAUS Rick Claus is a Microsoft Developer Advocate on the Azure engineering team. His role is to connect with technical communities in order to share his knowledge about the ecosystem and capture feedback on how to make things better. He has worked in the IT industry for more than 20 years, working on Core Azure infrastructure services, Windows Server, systems management and all things “cloud”   CONTACT THE GUEST – RICK CLAUS Rick Claus can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/RicksterCDN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickclaus/ Website: https://regularitguy.com MS Learn: https://aka.ms/AzOpsFun2

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Allan Kelly. Allan is the author of several books including “Continuous Digital”, “Project Myopia” and “A Little Book about Requirements and User Stories”. He is also a regular conference speaker and the originator of Retrospective Dialogue Sheets, Value Poker and Time Value Profiles In this episode Phil and Allan discuss why a career in I.T. can be a risk, why new technologies will open up new problems to be solved and why you shouldn’t be scared to take some time out for yourself. Allan also provides some fantastic stories and insight into his own career.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (3.58) TOP CAREER TIP By having an interesting career in I.T. you are taking on a lot of career risk. Allan talks about the number of companies that he has worked for in the past that have subsequently either disappeared or folded. This is because interesting and innovative companies often haven’t found out how to make money reliably and this could delay your pay check.   (6.32) WORST CAREER MOMENT Allan tells us that early in his coaching career he took a role with a bank. He was very eager to help and make a difference when he joined but quickly concluded that a big part of the problem was the management. Allan believed that they needed to change the system but was unable to get the management’s time to explain his concerns. Consequently it became more and more frustrating until he was fired. However you will never know what a company is like until you try to work for them.   (11.25) CAREER HIGHLIGHT Allan describes how companies he worked for early in his career didn’t work in the way that he had been taught at university. It was disorganised and this made Allan feel guilty about not doing things correctly. He then worked for Railtrack on a project where they did work in a structured, methodical manner which delighted Allan. But he found that there were even more difficulties than he’d encountered in his previous experiences. However, he subsequently got to see what he had worked on in action and making a difference to other peoples’ lives when he visited Paddington station Allan also talks about how he was able to help someone transition their career from a programmer to a product manager.   (16.53) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T Allan says that we are constantly at the frontier of new technology. As we solve problems we open up new categories of problems to be addressed. He then provides an example of how he used XML to help to move data around. Allan then goes on to say that current technologies are helping to solve problems but they will also create a new frontier of things that we haven’t even thought about.   (20.21) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – BBC Telesoftware. Allan was able to write programs, send them to the BBC for publishing and be paid for them. What’s the best career advice you received? – Allan can’t recall a specific example but recalls not having the confidence to work independently as a contractor What’s the worst career advice you received? – A school career aptitude test suggested that Allan should become a forester or woodsman. What would you do if you started your career now? – Create something and get it into the App stores and hopefully make some money out of it. Alternatively contribute to an open source project. What are your current career objectives? – Allan says that he’s longing to get back to product delivery. What’s your number one non-technical skill? - Allan considers himself to be a closet economist and that understanding has helped him in his career. How do you keep your own career energizer? – Allan does podcast interviews, speaks at conferences and writes books. What do you do away from technology? – Allan says that he’s found a love of gardening, exercises regularly and is kept busy by his children.   (26.10) FINAL CAREER TIP Allan says that he doesn’t believe that the perfect work-life balance exists. Don’t be scared of taking some time off for yourself.   BEST MOMENTS (10.10) – Allan Kelly - “Not all the agile coaches in the world are compatible with all the corporations and vice-a-versa” (25.01) – {Name} - “The person who learns most is the person doing the talking or doing the writing”     ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organisations to design, develop and implement software solutions. Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers. And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey.   CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast’s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community in Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer   ABOUT THE GUEST – ALLAN KELLY Allan Kelly inspires, educates and advises digital teams to effectively deliver better products through Agile technologies. He is the author of several books including “Continuous Digital”, “Project Myopia” and “A Little Book about Requirements and User Stories”. He is also a regular conference speaker and the originator of Retrospective Dialogue Sheets, Value Poker and Time Value Profiles   CONTACT THE GUEST – ALLAN KELLY Allan Kelly can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/allankellynet LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allan-kelly-19b16/ Website: https://www.allankellyassociates.co.uk/

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Aslak Hellesoy. Aslak is the creator of Cucumber and co-founder of Cucumber Limited.  He is a co-author of The Cucumber Book and was an early adopter of XP and BDD.   He has worked as a programmer, software architect, business owner and trainer in a variety of industries including finance, telecom and retail.   In this episode Phil and Aslak discuss his involvement in the test-driven way of working and how Cucumber came about. He explains how his Open Source projects played a role in the company’s formation and how his career has benefited from this way of getting things done.   Aslak demonstrates why learning functional programming languages is now a good idea. They also discuss the merits of CRDT and functional programming languages.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (8.50) TOP CAREER TIP Get involved in Open Source. Doing that has played a big role in Aslak’s career success. It is an effective way to learn new tech, have fun, expand your network and make a difference.   Aslak also recommends taking on speaking engagements. In the podcast, he explains how he got started and how you can do the same.   (12.05) WORST CAREER MOMENT Many years ago, Aslak found himself working on a big finance project. From the start, the team knew the deadline was impossible to meet. But, the project manager ignored this fact and did not make the customer aware of this issue. Despite everyone working long hours, the deadline was missed. It was a very de-motivating and stressful experience.   Bert saw firsthand the damage a lack of transparency and trust could do. That incident sparked his interest in behaviour-driven development (BDD). He could see that working collaboratively was a far better approach.   (14.27) CAREER HIGHLIGHT Selling the company he had built up with his team over the course of 5 years is Aslak’s career highlight. Aslak is looking forward to having more time to dedicate to Open Source work while still being involved in evolving Cucumber. It has also enabled him to get back to being able to code all day.   (16.05) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T Aslak is a little concerned about where the latest tech is going to take us as a society. A lot of good things are going to come out of AI. But, AI and other new techs are still very much open to abuse by governments and organizations.   More optimistically, Aslak points out that a career in tech still offers excellent job security, particularly for software developers. A situation that is not likely to change anytime soon.   (17.50) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – Aslak ended up pursuing an IT career by accident. Only when he understood the power of the World Wide Web did his desire to work in tech really take hold. What’s the best career advice you received? – Get a mentor, someone who is prepared to spend time with you. What would you do if you started your career now? – Aslak would learn functional programming rather than procedural programming. What are your current career objectives? – Aslak is looking forward to having a full-time team working on Cucumber. There are a lot of exciting features he wants to see added. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Listening to other people. How do you keep your own career energized? – Learning new techniques, languages, frameworks, databases and platforms. What do you do away from technology? – Aslak has two young daughters and enjoys cooking and playing five-a-side football.   (23.15) FINAL CAREER TIP Have lunch with a colleague you do not know well, preferably, someone who is doing something different from you. This will help you to understand the business you are working in far more. That will make you a far better developer.   BEST MOMENTS (9.22) – Aslak - “Working on Open Source projects is a great way to learn new technologies.”  (16.51) – Aslak - “Being a software developer is going to be a pretty safe job choice.” (19.16) – Aslak - “Get yourself a mentor. No matter where you are in your career a mentor will help.” (20.08) – Aslak - “Learn functional programming languages, you can get more done with them.” (21.32) – Aslak - “Listen to others and ask the right questions.” (23.15) – Aslak - “Get to know people from all areas of the business it will make you a better programmer.”     ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organisations to design, develop and implement software solutions.  Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers.  And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey.   CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact   Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast’s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer   ABOUT THE GUEST – Aslak Hellesoy Aslak Hellesoy is the creator of Cucumber and co-founder of Cucumber Limited.  He is a co-author of The Cucumber Book and was an early adopter of XP and BDD.   He has worked as a programmer, software architect, business owner and trainer in a variety of industries including finance, telecom and retail.     CONTACT THE GUEST – Aslak Hellesoy Aslak Hellesoy can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/aslak_hellesoy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aslak/ Website: https://aslakhellesoy.com/  

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Bert Jan Schrijver who is Chief Technical Officer at OpenValue in the Netherlands.  He focuses on Java, Continuous Delivery and DevOps.  And he is a Java Champion, JavaOneRockstar speaker and user group leader for the Dutch Java User Group.   He also loves to share his experiences by speaking at conferences, writing for the Dutch Java magazine and helping out Devoxx4Kids with teaching kids how to code.   In this episode Phil and Bert Jan Schrijver discuss how engaging with the tech community leads to more interesting career opportunities. They talk about how switching projects regularly enables you to achieve more and progress your career faster. Bert explains how to get the balance right, so you can find interesting, fun and engaging work.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (3.57) TOP CAREER TIP Engage in tech communities. Doing this has really shaped Bert’s career. Every company he has worked with in the past 10 years is one he heard about via the community, while attending events.   In the podcast, Bert expands on the type of engagement that works best.   (5.39) WORST CAREER MOMENT At one stage Bert found himself in real danger of burning out. He was working on a huge insurance project. When they got to the migration stage everyone had to work 13 hours a day, 7 days a week. Luckily, Bert realised he was close to burning out and falling sick. Fortunately, when he explained this to his then manager they were understanding and responded well.   The experience taught him the importance of maintaining a good work-life balance.   (8.13) CAREER HIGHLIGHT Being recognized as a Java champion by the international Java community is Bert’s career highlight, so far. It was nice to be recognized as an expert. Plus, occasionally, potential clients have also heard about the award.     (9.54) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T The way the IT industry operates now means that one person can achieve a huge amount. Provided you have a broad enough set of skills, you can build products on your own that can literally change the world.   During the podcast, Bert explains how to leverage your knowledge to build great things fast. The method he outlines means you do not need access to a lot of cash to get started.   (12.12) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – Bert learned to programme on a Commodore 64, which he started playing with at the age of 7. So, for him, a career in IT was a natural progression. What’s the best career advice you received? – Find a job where you can have fun. You will become far more successful, when you do. What’s the worst career advice you received? – Don’t become a consultant, you will be bored. The opposite was true. What would you do if you started your career now? – He would go into consulting earlier because you learn so much faster when you regularly switch between projects. What are your current career objectives? – To make OpenValue the best Java shop in the world. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Public speaking. Through his speaking engagements, Bert has met a lot of amazing people. How do you keep your own career energized? – Bert makes sure that he is always learning. He follows interesting people and stays involved with the tech community. What do you do away from technology? – Away from tech, Bert’s focus is his family.   (17.18) FINAL CAREER TIP Show interest in others and have empathy. When you are likeable and approachable, people want to work with you and you get stuff done together.   BEST MOMENTS (3.57) – Bert - “Engaging with the tech community is the best way to learn and find interesting projects.” (6.57) – Bert - “Keep a good balance between work and life. When you reach your mental capacity it is time to go home.” (10.12) – Bert - “Once your skillset is broad enough you can build a product that will literally change the world.” (12.50) – Bert - “Find a job that enables you to have fun, when you do success will follow.” (14.06) – Bert - “You learn a lot faster if you regularly switch between projects.” (17.18) – Bert - “Show interest in others and have empathy. When you truly connect with others, you achieve so much more.”   ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organisations to design, develop and implement software solutions.  Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers.  And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey.   CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact   Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast’s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer   ABOUT THE GUEST – Bert Jan Schrijver Bert Jan Schrijver is Chief Technical Officer at OpenValue in the Netherlands.  He focuses on Java, Continuous Delivery and DevOps.  And he is a Java Champion, JavaOneRockstar speaker and user group leader for the Dutch Java User Group.   He also loves to share his experiences by speaking at conferences, writing for the Dutch Java magazine and helping out Devoxx4Kids with teaching kids how to code.     CONTACT THE GUEST – Bert Jan Schrijver Bert Jan Schrijver can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/bjschrijver LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjschrijver/ Website: https://openvalue.nl/

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Sarah Guthals. She is currently a Senior Program Manager for Microsoft, focused on education.  She received a PhD in Computer Science from UCSD in 2014. During graduate school, she co-founded ThoughtSTEM, a company that teaches children to code through software and courses. She is also author of a dozen technical books targeted at students and was recently named in Forbes 30 under 30 list and UCSD’s 40 under 40 alumni. In this episode, Phil and Sarah Guthals discuss why you need to review the direction your life and career is taking, every 6 months, or so. They also talk about imposter syndrome and how it damages everyone, rather than just you. Sarah explains why you need to tailor the work you do to fit in with your unique skill set, an approach that benefits everyone. She also shares a simple tip that will enable you to become more effective at negotiating pay and benefits packages.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (5.24) TOP CAREER TIP Check-in with yourself regularly. You need to remember you are a growing and evolving person. What worked for you six months ago may not be right for you now. Checking your goals and what you are doing regularly can be life-changing. Do this with all aspects of your life and you will become much happier.   (9.30) WORST CAREER MOMENT Sarah wasted 3 months working on an educational project that she knew, because of her experience, was not viable. Unfortunately, she had not realised that her new colleagues at Microsoft did not know everything she did about K12 education. So, when a solution she believed was not workable was suggested, she went along with it, instead of speaking up. She had made the classic mistake of feeling that the Microsoft team had to know more than she did. In reality, on this occasion, it was her that was the expert. Her feelings of being an imposter stopped her from speaking up, earlier. In that situation, she really was the expert.   (12.08) CAREER HIGHLIGHT Sarah’s first job was her career highlight. In that role, she realised she was not tied into one career trajectory. If she did not enjoy something she could simply switch direction. This realisation inspired her to make each job her own. She now tailors each role to fit in with her skillset. As a result, she is always working in a way she enjoys, which means she thrives.   (14.01) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T Cloud availability means that all kinds of people can use tech to solve their problems and make their lives much easier. Everything people need to make things happen is far more accessible than ever before.   (16.52) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – The fact that the IT community is a truly collaborative one is what drew her to a tech career. What’s the best career advice you received? – When negotiating wages, remember you are not asking the person in front of you for the money. You are asking for the company’s money. What’s the worst career advice you received? – If you get a PhD, you cannot work in the tech industry. What would you do if you started your career now? – Study other disciplines. Sarah explains why in the podcast. What are your current career objectives? – Integrating education into everything she works on. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Empathy, which is a skill that also enables you to become an effective communicator. How do you keep your own career energized? – Sarah sets herself goals and reviews them regularly. What do you do away from technology? – Sarah loves visiting Disneyland. She also enjoys movies and writing.   (21.22) FINAL CAREER TIP Remember that you are a whole person. It is not just about your career. Put yourself first and the rest will follow. Diverse experiences are critical when it comes to solving problems. So, it is good for everyone when you are yourself and take care of your personal needs.   BEST MOMENTS (9.07) – Sarah - “Regularly, review your goals and ask yourself if they are still worth the level of effort you are putting in.” (11.13) – Sarah - “Even if you feel like an imposter, speak up. Ask questions, you will learn and may teach others something too.” (12.48) – Sarah - “Work to make your role fit in better with your skills and strengths to become happier and more productive.” (17.18) – Sarah - “Wage negotiations are not personal. It is the company’s money you are asking for, not the person’s in front of you.” (19.43) – Sarah - “Developing empathy automatically leads to you becoming a better communicator.” (21.22) – Sarah - “Remember, you’re not just your career. You are a whole person.”   ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organisations to design, develop and implement software solutions.  Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers.  And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey.   CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast’s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer   ABOUT THE GUEST – SARAH GUTHALS Sarah Guthals is currently a Senior Program Manager for Microsoft, focused on education.  She received a PhD in Computer Science from UCSD in 2014. During graduate school, she co-founded ThoughtSTEM, a company that teaches children to code through software and courses. She is also author of a dozen technical books targeted at students and was recently named in Forbes 30 under 30 list and UCSD’s 40 under 40 alumni.   CONTACT THE GUEST – SARAH GUTHALS Sarah Guthals can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahguthals LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sguthals/ Website: https://guthals.com/  

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Claudio Perrone. A well-known Lean & Agile management consultant, entrepreneur and start-up strategist.  He is a Fellow of the Lean Systems Society, the creative force behind A3 Thinker and the inventor of the PopcornFlow thinking model.   He has also been the driving force behind the design and development of several large scale solutions for global companies in the fields of e-learning, e-commerce, manufacturing and automation.     In this episode, Phil and Claudio discuss the PopcornFlow thinking way of working and how it drives faster change. He explains how to overcome the tendency to be zombie-like and always choose the default solution. They also speak about the importance of challenging yourself, so you stay marketable and discuss how this can be done.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (7.42) TOP CAREER TIP Grow claws like a tiger – stay sharp, always be learning and keep yourself marketable. Search out projects that keep you working on yourself. Never stand still.   In the podcast, Claudio shares how he learned this mindset and uses it to this very day.   (11.07) WORST CAREER MOMENT Many years ago, Claudio was part of a team that made a mistake that cost £3 million, a day, for 3 days. An error in the way they set up the servers and backups meant that they lost a ton of data. Fortunately, much of it was recovered, but, only because the sales team kept paper copies.   Claudio’s other low point was when he had to wrap up his joint business venture. Making talented people redundant felt particularly bad. But, the experience taught him to stop trading on assumptions and to avoid being proud and opinionated.     (15.04) CAREER HIGHLIGHT Taking an idea and turning it into an award-winning business was one of Claudio’s career highlights. His company provided breakthrough learning and performance solutions to numerous organizations. Being able to help people to recognise their potential and quickly unlock it was hugely rewarding.   (17.09) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T In terms of the technologies, Claudio sees everything becoming easier. As a result, we are able to be far more creative, ignite change and have a huge impact.    IT professionals have moved from being a necessary evil to a strategic force for change. The way we work is now more business-driven. It is an important change that is already making a positive difference.   (19.28) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – Unlike many others, Claudio did not drift into the world of IT. He began working as a technical writer, then self-taught himself Visual Basic, without going to college. What’s the best career advice you received? – Go home. There is no need to work stupidly long hours. In fact, it is counter-productive. What’s the worst career advice you received? – Pace yourself. This is wise advice for many people, just not for Claudio. What would you do if you started your career now? – Move companies more. If you stay in one company too long, you will stagnate. What are your current career objectives? – Claudio wants to bring PopcornFlow to the world. He is currently bootstrapping a company and helping more people to learn to experiment. What’s your number one non-technical skill? Being able to successfully negotiate change. The right solution for the wrong problem is the wrong solution. How do you keep your own career energized? – Every 5 weeks, Claudio launches a new start-up. They are all in different fields. Rarely going over the same ground twice keeps things fresh for him. What do you do away from technology? – Recently, Claudio has returned to music and drawing cartoons.   (32.53) FINAL CAREER TIP Stop fighting problems. Usually, to truly solve problems, you need to fight battles. The underlying issues need addressing.    If a company’s policies are no longer fit for purpose, they have to change. When the policies change, numerous problems automatically disappear. Impacting policies and driving change is something we are all capable of doing.   BEST MOMENTS (5.59) – Claudio - “Inertia is your enemy. Find ways to run little experiments. It is this that really changes the status quo.” (8.03) – Claudio - “Keep yourself marketable. Stay hungry, stay sharp and never stop learning.” (22.38) – Claudio - “It’s not only about what you do. What you learn by doing it is what matters.” (24.31) – Claudio - “Focus in on craftsmanship, learn your craft stay humble and be curious.” (34.26) – Claudio - “When company policy is restricting what you can achieve, step up. Get that policy changed.”   ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organisations to design, develop and implement software solutions.  Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers.  And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey.   CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact   Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast’s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer   ABOUT THE GUEST – Claudio Perrone Claudio Perrone is a well-known Lean & Agile management consultant, entrepreneur and start-up strategist.  He is a Fellow of the Lean Systems Society, the creative force behind A3 Thinker and the inventor of the PopcornFlow thinking model.   He has also been the driving force behind the design and development of several large scale solutions for global companies in the fields of e-learning, e-commerce, manufacturing and automation.   CONTACT THE GUEST – Claudio Perrone Claudio Perrone can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/agilesensei LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudioperrone/ Website: https://agilesensei.com/  

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Allen Holub.  An internationally recognised software architect and Agile-transformation consultant.  He’s worn every hat from CTO to grunt-programmer, and is an expert-level programmer in many languages.   He is also an international speaker and a widely published author, having written ten books and hundreds of articles.    In this episode, Phil and Allen discuss the unique challenges working as an independent throws up and how to cope with them. They also discuss the benefits that working this way bring.   They talk about why you need to seek advice from the right people. Then reveal two non-technical skills that will keep you organised and energize your career.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (7.29) TOP CAREER TIP If you are working as a consultant, make sure you keep at least 6 months of cash to hand. Your income is going to fluctuate and you need to be able to cover your bills.   Social media marketing is important for consultants. Twitter works particularly well. It enables you to have proper conversations and gives lots of people the chance to get to know you a bit.   (9.36) WORST CAREER MOMENT Allen was once hired to work on a terrible piece of software. It was so bad that he was obliged to write to the CEO and say so. He knew he had done the right thing. But, three years later, he was still struggling to find work. Former members of that team kept getting him blackballed.   But, he does not regret doing it. Allen thinks it is important to be honest. When you are consistently honest people hear about it and know they can trust you.   (12.49) CAREER HIGHLIGHT Making a positive difference to how people work and helping them to achieve more, is very fulfilling. So, for Allen, each new success is a highlight.   Speaking at conferences has enabled him to reach thousands more people. In the podcast, Allen shares an effective way to push yourself out of your comfort zone. A method you can use to start public speaking and benefiting from doing so.     (15.49) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T Allen says that for the I.T. industry the future is kind of interesting. However, he is concerned that we are starting to repeat past mistakes.   This is particularly the case when it comes to the Agile way of working. Many firms have tweaked it to the point where it is no longer Agile. Instead, they have more or less gone back to their previous inefficient ways of working. Allen explains why this has happened and touches on how issues like this can be rectified.     (19.10) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – Wanting to make his own electronic instruments led to Allen becoming interested in I.T. What’s the best career advice you received? – Because Allen’s career has not been a traditional one, he has not received much career advice. What’s the worst career advice you received? – Allen is an introvert, so he finds it impossible to effectively apply the marketing advice created for him by extroverts. It just does not work for him. What would you do if you started your career now? – Allen says he probably would not pursue an IT career, again. He explains why, during the podcast. What are your current career objectives? – Allen’s current focus is on marketing himself. He is also planning to write another book. What’s your number one non-technical skill? Being able to write well. It helps you to stay organised and communicate effectively. How do you keep your own career energized? – Speaking at conferences helps Allen to energize his career. It keeps him interacting with others and learning. What do you do away from technology? – Allen is an artist, so he draws occasionally and still enjoys playing the piano.   (24.57) FINAL CAREER TIP Provided you can handle the uncertainty and cash flow issues, working as an independent is a great career choice. It insulates you from a lot of negativity and is an interesting and fulfilling way of working.   BEST MOMENTS (7.50) – Allen - “For consultants, cash flow is a constant problem. So, you need six months of cash sitting around.” (11.40) – Allen - “You’ve got to be honest. If you are not you can’t do a good job.” (14.33) – Allen - “There is no need to fear public speaking. After all, you are just talking to people who are basically like you.” (20.41) – Allen - “To be useful, advice has to be given by someone who knows you and understands your work.” (25.30) – Allen - “Working as an independent insulates you from a lot of the problems that are associated with our industry”     ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organisations to design, develop and implement software solutions.  Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers.  And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey.   CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact   Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast’s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer   ABOUT THE GUEST – Allen Holub Allen Holub is an internationally recognised software architect and Agile-transformation consultant.  He’s worn every hat from CTO to grunt-programmer, and is an expert-level programmer in many languages.   He is also an international speaker and a widely published author, having written ten books and hundreds of articles.     CONTACT THE GUEST – Allen Holub Allen Holub can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/allenholub LinkedIn: https://twitter.com/allenholub Personal Website: https://holub.com/  

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Josh Doody. He helps software developers to get more high-quality job offers and negotiate higher salaries.  He is also the author of the book “Fearless Salary Negotiation”, a step-by-step guide to getting paid what you’re worth.   In this episode, Phil and Josh discuss the right way to negotiate high salaries. He shows the audience how a few simple language changes will turn you into a better negotiator and self advocate.   Josh explains how to avoid weakening your negotiation position by using a number when answering the question, how much do you want to make? He also reveals the IT sector in which his highest paid coaching clients are involved and explains why you may want to switch career direction.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (3.09) TOP CAREER TIP Always re-negotiate job offers, even if you think the offer is a really good one. Usually, you will have underestimated your value to that firm. They know this is likely to be the case. So, most firms, will only offer you what you consider to be a good salary, rather than what you are actually worth to them.   Josh also shares the best way to leverage the power you to get properly paid throughout your career. That includes when you move to new roles within a firm.  He also explains how to get your direct manager on your side.   (6.44) WORST CAREER MOMENT While Josh was still working for other people, he spent a year under a manager who had poor management skills. His manager had simply been promoted to the point where his salary level demanded that he had people report to him directly. This despite the fact he was not suitable for that role.   It was a situation that resulted in a very poor working environment. But, good came out of it. Josh realised that even if he left that firm, he could potentially find himself in the same situation again. It made him rethink his career and realise that he needed to find a way to work for himself.   (8.06) CAREER HIGHLIGHT At one point in his career, Josh got heavily involved in developing HR talent management and development software. This work was a highlight of his career.   He really enjoyed the creative process. Working on blue sky ideas, building systems people were actually able to use was engaging and exciting. Josh particularly liked being able to combine using his existing skills to the full while learning new ones.   (9.40) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T Machine learning and AI are the top fields to work in. That will be the case for many years to come. Unsurprisingly, the people who have this type of experience are being extremely well paid, right now.   The future for IT is bright and very exciting. Over the past year, more of Josh’s clients have started to receive multiple work offers. Many have taken advantage of this fact and chosen to do the work that looks to be the most interesting and fulfilling. The role that offers the most opportunities for the future.   (13.37) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – The first time Josh used a DOS computer; he saw the magic and was immediately hooked. What’s the best career advice you received? – His first boss taught him to be more purposeful about the way he approached his work. Not to just focus on the financial reward. What’s the worst career advice you received? – Slow down, you are progressing too fast. What would you do if you started your career now? – Josh would focus on machine learning and AI. The work is fascinating and Josh’s clients who work in that field are earning big. What are your current career objectives? – In the short term, Josh’s focus is on offering good coaching services. But, he is an entrepreneur, so expects to, switch focus, at some point. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Diplomatic communication. This skill enables Josh to stand up for himself and his ideas without putting the other party off. During the podcast, he shares a clever language trick he uses to do that. How do you keep your own career energized? – Experimenting and trying new things in his business. Josh is not afraid to take risks. What do you do away from technology? – Josh has a close group of friends that he spends a lot of time with. He is also active in his community.   (23.39) FINAL CAREER TIP When a prospective employer asks you how much you expect to make, if they were to offer you the job, never reply with a number. Josh explains what to say instead, so you do not alienate the other person or weaken your negotiating position.   BEST MOMENTS (3.13) – Josh - “Always negotiate job offers, even if you think the offer is really good.” (3.52) – Josh - “Get your pay as high as you can at the beginning, using tactful negotiation techniques.” (16.57) – Josh - “Of the people I coach, the ones involved in AI are the ones that are making the big money.” (17.07) – Josh - “For the next 20 or 30 years, AI is going to be huge.” (24.39) – Josh - “Don’t be the one to name the first number in wage negotiation.” (24.41) – Josh - “The wage negotiation process starts in the interview. Not, when you are offered the job. ”   ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organisations to design, develop and implement software solutions.  Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers.  And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey.   CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact   Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast’s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer   ABOUT THE GUEST – JOSH DOODY My guest on today’s show helps software developers to get more high-quality job offers and negotiate higher salaries.  He is also the author of the book “Fearless Salary Negotiation”, a step-by-step guide to getting paid what you’re worth.   CONTACT THE GUEST – JOSH DOODY Josh Doody can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoshDoody LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdoody/ Personal Website: https://www.joshdoody.com Company Website: https://fearlesssalarynegotiation.com/ Coaching Page: https://fearlesssalarynegotiation.com/coach Article: https://fearlesssalarynegotiation.com/the-dreaded-salary-question/

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Rob Allen. He leads impactful, cohesive development teams from the ground up to solve thorny problems.  He turns wild-west-style engineering organisations into professional powerhouses by leading untested initiatives through to successful deployment and broader adoption.    In this episode, Phil and Rob Allen discuss why setting clear goals is essential. As well as how to work out what they should be and achieve them. They also discuss the benefits of learning to be inclusive, listen closely and be empathic in your work life. As well as touching on how and when to reassess things so that you become even more effective and grow your career.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (3.17) TOP CAREER TIP The best GPS system can’t help you if you do not have a destination in mind. Career-wise you need to know where you are going in order to plot a way of getting there.   Rob points out that setting good career goals is not necessarily about setting your sights on working for a specific company or role. In the podcast, he explains how to get to where you want to be in both your work and personal life.   (0.00) WORST CAREER MOMENT In 2010, Rob travelled with his wife, a professor, to a conference she was attending. The world in which his wife worked meant that they met up with the same people several times a year. So, over time, many of them had become friends. When Rob walked into the bar someone he knew well slapped the bar and said something like – here’s Rob Allen, often wrong, seldom in doubt. The guy had been drinking, but, that comment still stung.   Worse than that, when Rob thought about it, he realised there was quite a lot of truth in that observation. It was an awful moment, but it led to him changing his ways. He started to stay quiet and listen far more at meetings. When he had a question, he still asked it, but made sure it did not sound like he was offering an opinion. Changes that proved to be very beneficial. So, in the end, his worst career moment turned out to be his best moment.   In the podcast, Rob explains the changes he made and how he and everyone around him have been able to benefit as a result of them.   (12.59) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T Rob believes that in the past 7 or 8 years, the IT industry has made real progress in terms of project and people management. These changes are having a profound and positive impact on the way we work and what we can achieve.     (14.37) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – Rob reached a stage in his life where he desperately needed to make more money. So, he decided to put his HTML and CSS skills to use and began his IT career. What’s the best career advice you received? – Shut up. What’s the worst career advice you received? – Hang in there and just stick it out, management will make it better eventually. What would you do if you started your career now? – Rob, would start out by focusing more on data analytics and those kinds of technologies. What are your current career objectives? – Currently, Rob’s team is understaffed. So, his focus is improving the hiring process and improving the efficiency of the team. What’s your number one non-technical skill? Empathy, it helps you to see the other side of something and learn more from others. How do you keep your own career energized? – Rob is an active member of Rands Leadership Slack, a group of about 10,000 software people. The conversations within that community keep Rob engaged, learning and energized. What do you do away from technology? – Rob enjoys spending time with his family and is a huge fan of the video game Overwatch. He is also working to put together a stable of cars.   (18.53) FINAL CAREER TIP Having clear career goals is essential. In fact, you should set clear goals for all areas of your life.   BEST MOMENTS (4.15) – Rob - “Work out what you want to achieve in life and set your career goals accordingly.” (5.07) – Rob - “Before accepting a role, ask yourself how it fits in with your long-term objectives.” (9.03) – Rob - “Listen carefully in meetings and make it clear you are asking questions to grow your understanding rather than challenging things” (16.18) – Rob - “Software is a team sport. You need to get the people right for the software to be right.” (18.53) – Rob - “If you are looking to energize your career, having a goal is essential.”   ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organisations to design, develop and implement software solutions.  Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers.  And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey.   CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact   Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast’s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer   ABOUT THE GUEST – ROB ALLEN Rob Allen builds and leads impactful, cohesive development teams from the ground up to solve thorny problems.  He turns wild-west-style engineering organisations into professional powerhouses by leading untested initiatives through to successful deployment and broader adoption.   CONTACT THE GUEST – ROB ALLEN Rob Allen can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/robspages LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robspages/ Website: http://robspages.net/  

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Laurie Barth. She is a software engineer who started as a mathematician.   She currently works as a developer and consultant with Ten Mile Square Technologies in the Washington DC Metro area.   In this episode, Phil and Laurie Barth discuss how to use your previous skills and experience to succeed when taking on new roles. They also speak about how the background of those getting involved in the industry is becoming more diverse and the positive impact that is having.   During the podcast, they discuss how an empathetic approach to project management brings benefits for both the customer and the development team. As well as, talking about the opportunities working collaboratively as an IT community is creating.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (4.46) TOP CAREER TIP All of your skills are transferable. Your past experiences from your education and previous jobs will all be relevant in some way, even if it is not obvious how. So, when you start a new role, remember that you are always a bit further ahead than you think.   (6.10) WORST CAREER MOMENT At one point in her career, Laurie ended up working for the government. In that role, she was put in charge of managing a series of large technical problems. Unfortunately, despite being a manager, she was not given the authority to actually do anything to solve those issues. Fairly quickly, she realised she was in the wrong job and moved on.   As a result of this experience, if Laurie does not feel excited or engaged with what she is being asked to do, she quickly speaks up. At the company she is currently working for, every time she has done that, they have pivoted things enough to make things interesting again.   (8.09) CAREER HIGHLIGHT For Laurie, her first lead engineer role was a really exciting experience. When she took over, she quickly realised that some tension existed between the customer and the technical team. From the start, Laurie recognised that the client was not that interested in her technical prowess. They just wanted to know she had their back and would deliver good solutions. In response to this, Laurie decided to focus on understanding their problems and gaining their trust. Armed with that knowledge, she was able to act as an effective conduit between the customer and the technical team.   As a result, the project went from being one that was in trouble, to being one that was a huge success. By the end of it, everyone was really excited about what had been accomplished. An outcome few expected, which is part of the reason it is one of Laurie’s career highlights.   (9.59) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T It is good to see the industry moving away from the stereotype of coders in a basement, working apart from everyone else. Now, communities of developers are coming together online, at conferences, meetups and working on open source projects.   People are getting excited about the tech again and are being introduced to lots of new stuff. This collaborative culture is helping to move things forward at a far faster pace.   (11.13) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – A love of puzzles and maths. What’s the best career advice you received? – Your values and goals should always be in sync, not in conflict. What’s the worst career advice you received? – Never let a bad commute put you off of taking a great job. Terrible advice - a long, tiring, stressful commute can really mess up your quality of life. What would you do if you started your career now? – Laurie wishes she had recognised her coding abilities at a younger age. What are your current career objectives? – Laurie plans to do more technical writing and speaking. She is also enjoying playing around with the ECMO script syntax for JavaScript. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Writing. Technical writing is challenging, but it is a skill that is in demand and the work is interesting. How do you keep your own career energized? – Getting involved in various IT communities has enabled Laurie to connect with some incredible people. It has also exposed her to all kinds of interesting and new tech. What do you do away from technology? – Laurie plays a lot of board games, bakes whenever she can and loves TV and movies.   (15.42) FINAL CAREER TIP Build genuine relationships and help others. When you take that approach you become more valuable and a useful contributor to the IT industry.   BEST MOMENTS (5.24) – Laurie - “Even if you're starting from scratch, you're further ahead than you think.” (7.12) – Laurie - “If you don't feel engaged, while working on a project, speak up and change things up.” (10.36) – Laurie - “Get involved with IT communities to benefit from the growing collaborative culture.” (11.39) – Laurie - “Make sure your values and goals are always in sync, not in conflict.”  (14.38) – Laurie - “The IT industry is crying out for technical writers.” (16.02) – Laurie - “Help others and build genuine relationships to become a more valuable industry contributor.”    ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organisations to design, develop and implement software solutions.  Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers.  And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey.   CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact   Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast’s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer   ABOUT THE GUEST – LAURIE BARTH Laurie Barth is a software engineer who started as a mathematician.   She currently works as a developer and consultant with Ten Mile Square Technologies in the Washington DC Metro area.   After speaking at her first conference in 2017, she now regularly speaks about the technical challenges she has faced in her career.  And in her free time she involves herself in local technology groups, including facilitating a Girls Who Code club.   CONTACT THE GUEST – LAURIE BARTH Laurie Barth can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurieontech LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriebarth/ Website: https://laurieontech.com/