Ok. Awesome. Awesome. Um, so in your particular session, I'm, I'm just, I'm, I'm the director of it. Support for um, two K games. So been here about a year and uh it's very different corporate world. I love it.I've been in the corporate arena probably 20 years and then I was state government for uh, 10 years. So it was a big

change. Oh, wow. Yeah, that is a big change. I used to be in government as well. Too many months.

Yes. So going from state government to corporate, I was with Dell for 15 years and then I moved into, I'm going to do my own thing. Uh I did a food trailer and food truck and uh, yeah, I learned. Yeah. So, so when you look at, um, the different ways to use your skills, leveling up your career, tell me like, how do you position yourself to say, OK, this is what I wanna do. This is how I'm gonna do it. But then you have all these obstacles in front of you.

Yeah. And you just take it one step at a time. Um One of the things that I always tell people with like leveling up your career is um figure out what's your transferable skill set that is like the most important thing is the transferable skill set and being able to really take those transferable skills and apply them to some of your goals that you have.

Um And I feel like that that's the only way to be able to break it down and to have your goals be obtainable. Um And I think a lot of people overthink that they're like, oh, well, I'm coming from sales like, what am I about to do in tech? And I'm like, ok, we need to be able to sell these uh tech or like people who have come from different other industries. And I'm like, if you have leadership capabilities and really organized, we need project managers, you know, everything is attainable in tech. But I just think there's this fear like around the word tech that people think that is not obtainable or that it's so much harder than when it has to be. But that's not even the case.

Totally not the case. I do really good at mentoring my employees to do exactly that. And I, I've been really successful over the years and growing the employees. But for myself, II, I hit a wall. I, I have that became directors before me because that's not where I wanted to be at that moment or I just didn't put as much effort in it, but I put effort in, in them. So, it, it's easy for me to see someone else's path. Exactly. Um, and so, uh, and, and, and now I'm ready to go. My kids are grown and I have grandkids. So it's, it's my time.

It's your time now.

So, it is hard to say. Ok, focus on you. Um, if you're like, in my career, I have a number of skills that range from program management to programming to tech support, to equipment. You, you name it. I've just about touched it in it, except for security. I'm worried about that. But, and the sad part about it, that's the one I like the most and have not touched it. It's like a part of it. But

don't be the only time to be afraid is when like an actual cyber attack happens

that and that, you know, that that's the information security side of it. And you also have the regular security where you actually system security. So there's so many areas that I could touch. I've touched them in working with individuals, but to actually dive in, it's always because it's gonna set me back. I have to start over. That's what I say to myself, over and over again. So I make excuses in other words. So how do you, how do you look at things and determine if it's just a hobby you like, or if it's really something you want to dive into?

Um, I look at what my goals are like, what is my passion that I would like to obtain? And it's like, if it's something that I genuinely enjoy, I know that I'm gonna put my all into it. Um So like, for example, I, I feel like I really love being a part of all aspects of the uh software development life cycle. I like being able to see things from just an idea to uh it being in the public eye, being executed and millions of people downloading. So I um created my own role over at the New York Times to be able to do that because I felt like I want to create my own role. I wanna still be involved in all pieces of the software development life cycle. I wanna be this project manager. I wanna be this product manager. I don't want, I, I love developing but I don't want my paycheck to depend off of development. So it's, but I wanna have my hand in development. I wanna have my hand in all these pieces. So I was like, well, what could I do that uh encompasses encompasses it all. So that's when I came up with the title creative Technologist and I've been there for about nine years now um leading up that division.

So I'm able to see our digital products from, oh my God, an idea to uh what readers read now. Like one of our uh virtual reality apps that was just an idea that came across my desk and I was like, hey, let's go with it, let's build it out. And, um, that was one of the top downloaded apps of like, how we deliver news and, like, virtual reality.

Wow. Wow.

Yeah. So, you know, II, I pick up things that I really like to do and I try to mash it all together and I create it as one. Yes.

I, I think I used to do that when I was younger. I think somewhere along the line, I gave all my brain cells to my employees and I'm like, wait, wait, I need one of those for me. Um That, that's where I'm at now. I'm looking at two K has opened a different concept for me um in the ways that I could actually take my career and, and my goal is of course to be at sea level and, but I wanna make sure I'm doing something I love when I get there. Um I'm always gonna be the people is always a, that's a no brainer because I really love working with people. But I never went into the hr side. I have written hr manuals, you name it. I've done it, but I never went and took any classes. I told you I've touched about everything. Um And so I look at what other companies are doing. I look at the different roles and what that role just because the title says one thing you look at it and you go 00, that's what that is. Um So, so trying to level up my career is gonna take me uh time to step back and evaluate me and that's where I, that's why I keep hitting that wall and, and I'll go. Oh, ok. I'll do it tomorrow now. Years pass and I haven't done anything. So,

so I actually authored a journal that was released early this year to help people like us. OK? Yes, it is a UR tech career journal. And each month you complete a new challenge and the challenges help you be able to reach your goal of what you're trying to obtain in tech, whether you're trying to level up or break into tech. So like the first month I have it written out where you do your research, what are you trying to obtain? Do your research? Who's, who's in the job similar to yours? Um How much do they make? Because there's another thing people get into these roles and think, oh my God, I'm gonna go ask for $300,000. And it's like, well, I'm sorry, I date an analyst may not be, may not be

exactly.

So it's like do your research figure out what the duties are of that particular role. So, and I have it in the journal that you write it down. Like the pros and the cons like what is your research? And then like the second month, there's another challenge and by the end of end of the uh journal you should have completed. So I've, I've did it in two tracks because some people are like, OK, I wanna attain my goal in six months and not 12 months because it's like each month you complete a challenge. Um So in that instance, I, I do the fast track where it's like, OK, you do 22 challenges a month, like you can go at your own pace but just make sure you're following the guidelines of being able to write down and hold yourself accountable because it makes you do the work of like what we're avoiding.

Like you're like, oh yeah, I'm gonna get to it. I'm gonna get to it and it's like, no, this breaks it down week by week of how you can obtain your goals. OK.

OK. Awesome. So where, so where is your, how is your journal public?

Yes, it's public. If you can go and purchase it on Ur tech.com backslash journal. Yes, it is public. Um And I am about to start doing Weekly Lives on Instagram um or Twitter talk spaces to be able to help and build that community around people because I do know some people um reach out and they say, oh my God, OK, I've done this but this is another roadblock for me. So I wanna be able to have like office hours to be able to help guide people through their journal, through the journal and like, give that mentorship along the way of like, wow, people are completing these challenges. Um So far, it has been amazing and great feedback and it's like, I'm just so shocked that like, I'm able to make this impact and help people obtain their goals with in tech without overthinking because I think that's one of the biggest um myths within tech. Like you overthink all of these things that we have to do. And it's really more simple than, than what

it is. Yes. And, and like, like I stated, um it's easy for me to help someone else. So then this would help me because I'm just like, ok, I can do that instead of me flipping that and just like, put your name in there instead of one of your employees. I, I'm constantly going, ok, why don't you do this? And they're like, oh, awesome. I can do that and I'm like, I'm gonna put your leadership skills in, I'm gonna do this, but then I turn around to do it for myself and I just get stuck and I'm like, ok, OK, you've got to self heal there somewhere because it's not working. But that, that is awesome. I'm definitely gonna go out and purchase that because um I look at, I look at the different positions and that I've held and I look at the positions that are there and I'm like, well, I could do that in that role, I could do that in that role. What do you want to do? How you have to weigh it out and you have to do your research. And I even did my research. And before I took the two K position, I was often a director of program um management for security for MGM.

I was so excited because I could touch security and, you know, and no, and they lowball so bad until I was like, I'm not

taking that. I just know your worth.

So I thought that's the kind of position that I would need because I didn't have to be a P MP certified because I was really just running those programmers and I thought that is exactly what I love. So I know where my, my love is tied to security. I just haven't been able to get there,

go for it, go for it. Break down those barriers of like what that blockage is that's holding you guys go for it.

Yes. So that's, I mean, I can't wait to see what your journal is. So I can just start and if I get stuck then I know you're somewhere blogging. Yes. So, so it's so hard to, um, it's kind of like when you do your evaluation, it's hard to evaluate yourself and do your performance reviews. You're like, I don't know. Yeah. Don't, you know, you know, it's really hard to get that. Yeah. And I'm not a networker, you know what

I tell people this all the time. Um because this has been one of the, the, I'm not gonna say it's a gripe but people always say, well, why don't you speak more or why aren't you doing these things? Like you should be on these big stages, you should be doing these things. And I'm like, if you're really a true techie, most of us are introverts, like I'm an extrovert.

So it helps a little bit. But if you came from a great development and, and you're like, are the, you're an introvert, you just give me my little room and I might get online. But I'm a, I'll talk to you. I'll, I'll type all day. Yeah,

that online. Oh, I'm like this big personality and when they see me in person, I'm like, like, oh my God, what do I say? Like,

you know that you're kind of like, my daughter is one of those real quiet people. My oldest one, she doesn't, you know, she really doesn't know you. People say don't fool with people. She really doesn't. She isn't. But she loves acting. So when she went to acting school in New York, I said, I'm going up every time you have something. So I did, I saw her on stage the first time and I cried because I was like, I don't know who that child is. But, oh my God, she's awesome. She gets on stage and she's a totally different person. And so that's how you are when you get in front of people. I'm a totally different person. I definitely, I really wanna talk to you face to face. Um And once I'm in an environment like that, I'm ok, but to put myself there, that's where I run into my own. But ok, well, I'm going to get your, your, your book and I mean, your journal and actually see how can I walk through

it, please do um and feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions. Um I know how taunting like the tech industry can be and like just the fear of being able to um navigate and switch over to different career paths or even, you know, some of the people that are in the audience, if you're looking to break into tech, one of the things that one of the roles that I always tell people to start off in is quality assurance um because you really get to see all of tech because you are working with developers, you're working with project managers, you're working with product managers, you're working with um sometimes security, you really get to see a high overview of technology.

Um One of the things I will say that is a gripe in my opinion is that I do feel like uh quality assurance is one of the most underrated roles within the ecosystem, but it's so pivotal and it's so needed um, because when things go out and they have mistakes, you're the first blame.

Exactly. Exactly. I love Jasmine's statement. An extroverted introvert.

Yeah. And Sundays, uh, introvert power. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Oh, that is awesome. It looks like I have a manager that's having a problem. So I'm going to hop off. I have totally enjoyed you and hopefully it'll be quick and I may be back on listening to someone else. I would love to hear what others have to say as well.

So perfect. Ok. If anyone has any additional questions for me or um I have been prepared to talk, but I'm we, we just had one.

Ok. Thank you so much, Lisa. Ok, thank you.

Bye bye. Um You can purchase the journal at UR tech.com. I'm gonna put this in the, in the actual chat that is the website and this is the, does anyone have any other questions? I mean, I totally prepared a whole like talk, but we ended up going into this mini interview which turned into um us discussing so much within tech, which I know I think they're gonna cut me off in about five minutes. So how can you get your first paid internship? A job with visa support. So what I will say a lot of big companies, they do have visa sponsorship, um like Google, um New York Times, um Microsoft and they have apprenticeship programs where they will uh pay you and do your Visa support. I, I'm not sure what areas you're looking in but I know for the state of New York, anywhere that you intern or an apprentice, they have to pay you. It is against the law now. So I would say look at companies in New York City or the state of New York because, um, they have to pay you regardless. And I know a lot of the big companies will pay for visa support.

Um They will, you know, sponsor you for the X amount of time. Um So it's definitely possible I would look in the states that make sure that you have to be paid. And I know New York is one of those states where it's against the law to not pay an internship. Yes. Thank you for dropping your linkedin. I will definitely be uh connecting with you. I will um also send you some apprenticeship programs that I do know about. I think now is the time to start applying for them for the fall because um like big companies look for them year round. Is there anything else? Um We have a few minutes before they cut my time off. Um And if anyone wants to connect, uh I didn't get a chance to share my slides. Uh My social media handles Rur Tech and that is spelled out youaretech um on Instagram and Twitter. Uh My personal Instagram and Twitter are Lisa G dot NYC. Um that's across all networks on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. Um would definitely love to connect with everyone. Um I do apologize. I didn't get a chance to share my slides and things because we immediately went into like this fireside chat. Um I look forward to connecting with all of you offline and I think they are about to cut me off. So let's stay in touch. Bye.