Her Story
About Marina
I've been in the IT field for over 50 years, and over the past 2 years, I've been pursuing my master's degree in IT project management. This has allowed me to shift from a technical role into management, which is where I am now in my current position of 3 years. At my company in Milwaukee, I'm responsible for keeping many systems up and running, ensuring they integrate properly with each other. I manage a technical team, organizing their work and keeping our tasks on time and tracked. The most challenging aspect of my work is dealing with people, because unlike systems which are rational and numbers-based, people have their own particular lives and individual situations that we have to manage. It's always tricky because it depends on everyone and it changes - it's not mathematics. What inspires me most are the managers I've worked with who could deal with situations very well, who are humanized people that can understand situations and deal with them professionally. They showed me how to keep the company priorities in mind while never going over people and their situations, and they kept me motivated. That's how I want to keep my team as well.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Marina
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would recommend them to be compromised and aligned with the company priorities. They would be valued if they are aligned with that. So, keep them motivated and not just postponing tasks. It really helps when we count with people and their work, if they are committed. Right now, artificial intelligence is going so fast, and if they can bring value to a company by helping them to be on this run, because everyone is trying to absorb as much as possible of artificial intelligence to help the business, that would be good. And marketing as well - it is really good when we can put the tags in order to be more visible, when the company's website is built well and social medias are appearing well and can be found on Google. All of this would help a company, and if the professional brings value to that, it's good as well.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is dealing with people, because everyone has their own particular lives and individual situations that we have to manage. When we deal with systems, it's all about numbers and everything is rational - we don't have emotions involved. But when we deal with people, we do have this side, and it's always tricky because it depends on everyone. It changes - it's not mathematics. That's the most challenging thing. As for opportunities, artificial intelligence is going so fast right now, and if professionals can bring value to a company by helping them to be on this run, that's important because everyone is trying to absorb as much as possible of artificial intelligence to help the business. Marketing is also a good opportunity - when we can put the tags in order to be more visible, build the website well, make sure social medias are appearing well and can be found on Google, all of this helps a company.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my work, what's most important to me is having the company priorities in mind while never going over people and their situations. My managers inspired me because they are humanized people who can understand situations and deal with them professionally. They encouraged me and kept me motivated, and that's how I want to keep my team as well. Outside of work, I like to take care of my family and my dog. I like to take care of my health as well, going for walks and having time with family. That's when I feel recharged and ready to go through a new week.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Florida
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.