After getting my degree from Duke, I had a very different career trajectory than my other Computer Science peers. I was not interested in doing software development. Although, I loved problem solving and development, I also had a passion for teaching and engaging with people/students to share my passion and knowledge with others. I was contacted by a Microsoft Recruiter for a job as a “Premier Field Engineer.” I had no clue what this role was, but it was explained to me that in this role I had the opportunity to travel to various customers that have contracts with Microsoft to help guide and assist them with Microsoft solutions. So, this means I travel a great deal, all over the country, and perform assessments of environments, deliver trainings, and or help customer with issues they are having with our products. Since my degree was in Computer Science this means I interact mostly with developers, program managers, and their leadership teams! It is a very exciting role to be in and have the opportunity to interact with so many people, companies, and organizations all over the United States!
I would recommend exploring science and technology careers to other Latina girls because of the endless possibilities in the industry. If you have a passion right now, there is probably a sub-area that needs people with that exact cross industry knowledge. It is also an opportunity to have your voice and experiences heard in an industry that is lacking our representation. There are so many things that are overlooked or not thought about because of the lack of diversity and experiences!
