I am an English Major, now what?
I went to college to become a Physical Therapist, graduated with a degree in English, and 20 years later I am a Chief Technology Officer. When I was 18 years old and thinking about what I would be doing for my life, I could have never predicted the path I would take to get here. At this point in my career, I find myself sharing my journey with others, be it a new college graduate or an experienced professional pondering a new opportunity. As I share my story, I may leave them more confused than before we started because there was no clear path to how I got to where I am today. I genuinely believe that is ok, and an individual’s mindset may be more important than any degree or career planning.
Even though I am now a CTO, my experience with computers started at a young age when my Dad brought home an Apple IIe. After a few months messing around with the computer, I found myself volunteering at the local library to help others learn how to use a computer. My parents also found a programming class through a local university that a friend and I took together. We learned about punch card programming and a language called Turtle. I also learned about the most valuable analogy to use with my business partners to teach them what it really means to be a computer programmer, the Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich. Ask me, and I will gladly tell you more.
