Hello Everyone!
I am so excited to start this course! Not only for the entrepreneurial opportunities but also because it is my last semester in the MET program! I do plan to pursue a PhD in the near future, but for a couple months in 2020 I will get my evenings and weekends back.
My path to teaching and educational technology is less direct than many I have met in the MET. I started my career in the Tech sector, first through technical support, then transitioning into many different roles from manager of support services, to project manager for implementations, product owner, product manager…you name it and I have probably done it! Working in startups presents so many opportunities, as everyone needs to wear multiple hats to get the product running, gain, and retain customers. While I loved the constant change and fast pace of startups, after over 10 years of 50-80 hour weeks, I needed a break. As I often gravitated toward roles that allowed me to mentor and train others, I switched gears and focused on training and eventually moved into the not-for-profit world. I currently work as a Learning & Culture Business Partner at a public safety not-for-profit organization.
My over a decade working in the tech sector was probably one of the decades of our greatest technology shifts. When I first started working in technical support, I supported many clients using DOS and Windows NT systems (running DOS programs). Within a few years, big data, smartphones, cloud computing, and SAAS (software-as-a-service) became all the rage. Now I work in an organization that uses AI to assess safety risk with technical systems. It is amazing to see how far we have come, and also how much farther technology can go.
I am looking forward to this course, as I do predict one day I may want to establish my own consulting business. Gathering a deeper understanding of ventures as they apply to Edtech I think are important skills for any career that involves presenting tech solutions.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my 12-year-old Boston Terrier and travelling.
