Welcome to another edition of IntelePeer’s Tech Tuesday series. This week Katrina Delene, Senior Web Marketing Manager, shares her career experience and provides some humbling advice.
1. How did you end up in the tech industry?
As far back as middle school, I knew I wanted to work with computers and design in the future. I went to college for design and media studies, and then I worked my way up from an intern to web manager at my first company. I quickly learned that I had skills for a creative niche that no one else had at the time. I used that to secure a spot on the team, eventually narrowing my focus to web management.
2. What technology do you use the most – whether in your personal or professional life?
In my digital nomad lifestyle, I use a lot of apps like FreeRoam and iOverlander to find camp sites. I find travel inspiration through Instagram and Pinterest. And when I travel internationally, my go-to messaging app is WhatsApp.
3. What was the most challenging aspect of your career and how did you overcome it?
Art is subjective. As a creator, it’s sometimes hard to separate yourself from the creation. I had to learn to take feedback in stride – not personally – to come to a compromise that worked for everyone.
4. Any advice for women who want to join the tech industry?
As a woman, the best advice I can give is to build a strong team and have a supporting mentor. Surround yourself with good people who want you to succeed – male and female. Learn from both genders and be transparent. You can adapt to any industry, but networking and connections will help you get through the door.
5. What advice would you give your younger self who is just starting in the workforce?
Here are a few of my favorite mantras that I would advise my younger self:
- “Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively”- Dalai Lama XIV
- Under promise and over deliver
- Being kind will get you farther than being feared
- Overcommunicate
- “Be a goldfish” – Ted Lasso
6. Bonus: What podcasts are you currently listening to?
I’m personally more of an audio book gal. In marketing, it’s important to know how to tell a story. These are some of my favorite reads that will have you invested in the characters, excited by the plot, and revisiting time after time:
- “Dune” by Frank Herbert
- “Norse Mythology” by Neil Gaiman
- “The Demon King” by Cinda Williams Chima
- “Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia” by Elizabeth Gilbert