Her Story
About Ann
Ann Durbin serves as Technical Account Manager at Net at Work, where she manages national accounts in the IT managed services sector. Based remotely in Milwaukee, she supports clients from coast to coast for a company headquartered in New York City. With almost 25 years of experience in the industry, Ann began her career in network services after an early interview experience that redirected her from international business aspirations. She earned two Bachelor of Business Administration degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, one in Spanish and one in marketing, and she studied Portuguese and French as well. Ann attributes her success to tenacity and hard work, describing herself as scrappy and emphasizing that the journey itself is the best part. She values doing what she says she will do, being honorable and trustworthy, and treating others as she would want to be treated. In her field, which remains male-dominated, she focuses on being heard and respected while setting boundaries to maintain her health and priorities. Ann advises young women entering the industry to give themselves grace, embrace authenticity, and remember to get back up after setbacks. Outside of work, she volunteers with Feeding America, the Humane Society, and wildlife rescue efforts.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ann
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a lot of tenacity and hard work. I often refer to myself as scrappy. When I get knocked down, I get back up. And I don't stay down. The journey is the best part. There is no pinnacle endpoint. I always say that to people that I've managed, like let's celebrate even take a moment before we're on to the next thing, let's take a moment to appreciate this and celebrate this win.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Stop trying to be what I think other people want me to be and embrace who I am. Don't apologize for everything. You don't need to be apologizing for everything. It puts you at a different stature than the people in the room when you start doing that.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Give yourself some grace. It doesn't happen overnight. Enjoy your journey. Be authentic, be authentically who you are, embrace who you are, and appreciate who you are. There's only one you. And don't let anyone tell you who you are, who you should be. Embrace the whole journey. You're gonna fall down. That's okay, everybody does. Just remember, get back up and keep going.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
My field is very male-dominated. Being heard or being fully respected. IT is very complicated, it's complex. You have to keep a lot of plates spinning all the time. It's stressful, it's very hectic. Knowing when to shut it off for the night is important. Learning how to set priorities and boundaries for myself, for my own life, my own health.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Do what you say you're going to do when you're going to do it. I really strive to be an honorable person. I want to be a good person. I want to be the kind of person that's a good friend, that's a good wife, that you can trust, that you feel is uplifting. Do unto others as you'd want them to do to you. I want to do what's right, even when it's hard.
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