My Story (again)

I started my professional career working for a technology start-up company. What attracted me to the position was the opportunity to be a part of something that had the potential to become huge. I liked the idea of getting in at the earliest possible stage and building the company from a simple idea into a successful business. I liked that my ideas were seriously considered and implemented, despite my limited experience and I enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment in seeing how my contributions had a real and direct impact on company performance.

Unfortunately, there were a lot of hurdles to overcome. As one potential investor put it, "There's early, and then there's too early". I reached a point where I found myself unable to contribute in a way that the company needed at that time. Most of the work that needed to be done was technical and I did not have an engineering background or any relevant experience in that field. So I decided it was time to move on. I do keep in touch with the company and the friends I made while working there, and I have a vested interest in seeing that the company still succeeds.

For my next position, I wanted to find a company that offered a stable corporate structure. While I had enjoyed the freedom of creating new methodologies and practices at my first position, I had never been exposed to a large corporate bureaucracy and felt that there was much I could learn in the way of corporate structure and large-scale business interaction.

I took a position as a Software Analyst for a Market Research Software Company. It was an excellent fit both me and the company as I was a key member of a new software project team. In this role I had the opportunity to initiate and improve team processes, a practice which I was familiar with from my previous position. I was also exposed to working within an established corporate structure and cooperating with a large team to see that our overall goal was successful. As a bonus, I gained experience using web-based software. Since I have always been interested in technology and the internet, this was an exciting area for me to gain some valuable experience.

I enjoyed this position and from a career standpoint had no immediate reason to leave, but I had an opportunity to move closer to family which required new changes (and opportunity) in my career. Now I'm in the Bay Area and seeking a challenging position that offers the opportunity to continue to grow and have a real impact on the company.

Personally, I would like to better myself by gaining new degrees and certifications. I'm currently studying to become a Certified Associate in Project Management. I also plan on getting my MBA within the next 5 years. Depending on the position I end up getting, I'd like obtain any and all relevant certifications, i.e. CFA or CFP.

Ideally, I would like to find a position that allows me to utilize my experience in business and/or technology. I have a passion for both areas and feel that I would excel in either field.