Tech Tuesday: Sheri Lee, Corporate Controller

1. How did you end up in the Tech Industry?

After graduating from college, my first job was an auditor at one of the “Big 4” accounting firms. Most of my clients were either in the biotech or tech industry. It was fascinating to learn about their products, whether they were pharmaceutical drugs going through phase III clinical trials or services like cloud data management.

Since technology is constantly changing, my clients had to learn how to pivot or market themselves in diverse ways to stay competitive within their respective industries. The same thing could be said about IntelePeer. I have been at IntelePeer for almost nine years, and we have gone through so many changes. I feel like every day is an opportunity to learn something new.

2. What AI or machine learning capabilities are you most looking forward to?

I am looking forward to seeing how we can use AI to assist with healthcare and detect diseases early on. I have had family members who have been impacted with late diagnosis and their disease became terminal.

I also know that the healthcare industry is incredibly stressful and time consuming. If we could use AI to generate correct medicine doses or quickly cross-reference a patient’s chart to determine if there are side effects from receiving multiple types of medicine, it would reduce errors. Ultimately, I would like to see how machine learning capabilities can improve people’s lives for the better.

3. What was the most challenging aspect of your career and how did you overcome it?

The most challenging aspect of my career is being able to adapt to new things quickly. I always have my list of things that I need to get done for the day, but new things pop up constantly. Over time, I’ve learned how to prioritize what needs to be done at a moment’s notice and set expectations accordingly. This allows me to juggle my tasks and take care of my team’s responsibilities and needs.

4. Any advice for women who want to join the tech industry?

For those in college (or even those who have graduated), I’d use your college’s alumni network and reach out to women whose career path you admire or want to emulate. In college, I participated in events sponsored by the accounting department, and I was able to meet many women and hear their stories. In the workplace, find a manager who will help mentor you, and learn as much as you can from them.

5. What advice would you give your younger self who is just starting in the workforce?

Be like a CAT – Communicate, Adapt and Try your best. Communication is probably the single most important skill that everyone needs. No one can read your mind, so it is crucial to speak up. Adapt to changes in your environment and be flexible – every challenge is an opportunity to learn something new. Try your best at everything you do. Mistakes are ok as long as you learn from them.