Her Story
About Maram
I've been in higher ed technology for about 20 years, working as a Principal Project Manager specializing in transformation and migration from on-premise to cloud. In my role, I help customers move their ERPs from on-prem to the cloud - that's literally what I do every day. I come in and move bits and pieces of that information into the cloud, validate, sign off, and move on to the next piece. I hold an MBA and a second master's degree in organizational behavior and human resource development from Abilene Christian University, which I completed in 2010 and 2012. I was an adjunct professor for a little bit of time and started my doctoral program, though life got in the way. I take a lot of pride in having two masters and starting my doctorate. I'd like to think that I'm a continuous learner, and I'm hoping to get back to finishing my PhD or doctorate program. Beyond my professional work, I volunteer locally to help high school students prep for their college career. Even though I'm not on the academic side but rather in IT, construction design, and all of that, I know enough to hopefully provide some support to high school kids that are struggling with figuring out their career. Within that outreach, I also try very hard to encourage girls and women to get into IT, helping them get over some of the stigma of being a nerd and look into getting into technology.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Maram
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having a good support system at home. My husband has been my rock, but definitely a good support system. Being proactive, being a continuous learner, perseverance, and just putting oneself out there - these are the things that have really driven my success.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was: You don't need a title to lead. This has really shaped how I approach my work and leadership throughout my career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't let anyone tell you you can't do it. When it comes to technology, and specifically this new era of cloud and transformation, women are still represented at around 25-28%. I try to encourage young women to look into getting into technology and get over some of the stigma of being a nerd. Because if you're in technology or you're in a computer lab, you're a nerd, and nobody wants to be a nerd in high school, right? But you shouldn't let that hold you back.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The challenge is it's forever changing. You know, once you master one piece, as soon as you've mastered it, it's changed to something different. So it's forever changing, but I think that's also the opportunity. You are always on the verge of the next breakthrough.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, honesty, and the constant opportunity to help others are most important to me. I believe that people should have a good sense of humor and a good sense of social responsibility. If you combine the two, it doesn't matter what you do in life, you'll be a happy person.
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