Kesha McDade

My career path is a pretty interesting one. I got my electrical engineering degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and growing up as a kid, I didn't even know what an engineer was. My father was an electronics engineer, and I looked up to my brother, and one day he just told me, 'because you're good at math and science, you're gonna be an engineer,' and loving my brother, I said okay, and the rest is history. After completing my degree in 1998, I planned to move into the semiconductor industry, but at a career conference, a recruiter from Verizon recognized my communication skills and personality and suggested I consider sales. I pivoted from pure electrical engineering to sales and systems engineering, where I found myself advising customers and solving business problems by leveraging technology. I spent the majority of my career in that capacity, eventually advancing to director and then Associate Vice President. Around 2023, I decided to return to my technology roots and joined AT&T Technology Services. Even though I wasn't a domain expert in software delivery or the latest technologies like AI, the leadership recognized my ability to communicate, lead, and translate complex technical concepts into simple terms for any audience. They placed me in a program and project management role overseeing all new product deliveries. Today, I lead a team and work across a broad organization that includes product development, engineering, and technology developers. My typical day involves leading my team, removing roadblocks, interfacing with executives, and communicating the current state of our business along with solutions and expected outcomes. While I love solving problems and making things better, I sometimes miss having my hands directly in the technology and building something that delivers immediate impact.