During an exciting career, our Account Manager Leanne Fernandes has found her career in tech to be inspiring – including the directions she’s been able to take in directing and advancing herself professionally. She tells us more about her professional story, and what’s motivated her, in this career profile.
 

What or who inspired you to pursue a career in tech?

I didn’t plan a career in tech but kind of just landed in it. I had finished a Bachelor of Biological Science at Deakin University in Victoria and had no idea what to do with it. Most of my friends went on to further studies to be a High School Science teacher but this was not for me. I saw a job on the Uni job board and it was for a computer company as a manufacturing trainee. I applied, got the job and moved to Sydney in a whirlwind space of a month.  

My first role was building computers on a production line and so my career began. Once you are in tech, it is amazing the directions you can go and I think what I love about it most is that you are constantly learning and there is always something that will grab your interest. It was the other manufacturing trainees that inspired me to continue in the tech industry. I watched them be promoted to roles in many different parts of the business and also in different cities across Australia. The opportunities were endless.
 

What challenges have you faced and overcome?

I have been in the tech industry for many years and have seen it go through peaks and troughs both in employment opportunities and then also changes in technology. Redundancies are common in every industry but the IT industry can be hit quite hard and I have weathered many periods where the company I have been working for has done mass redundancies.  

I had always managed to retain my job, until Dec 2023 where I found myself redundant. While it wasn’t a big shock, it certainly wasn’t part of my career plan at that time and I really wasn’t sure what I wanted next. I took a couple of months to spend with my teenage children who were on school holidays and pursued some personal interests, before realising that I was missing the stimulation of working in tech.  

There were a lot of jobs out there, so I had to really decide what type of company I wanted to work for, what role I wanted to do and what career prospects I wanted to be able to access within the next company that I worked for. I remember applying for the role at NCS and ticking most of the boxes both on their requirements and my requirements and was extremely fortunate to be successful in being offered a role.
 

What has been your most exciting career project?

This may not have been the most exciting but it certainly was the most rewarding and I wanted to talk about this one as it is a true example of technology directly helping individuals. The project was rolling out laptops to support high potential but socio-economically disadvantaged girls across Australia. The laptops, data access and managed IT support were part of a scholarship awarded to these girls providing them with the tools and resources that they needed to support them to reach their potential, complete high school and pursue a tertiary education. For some, access to technology is limited because they cannot afford a computer at home and this places them at a disadvantage to other students of their year level who do have easy access to technology.  

The company I worked with at the time provided the technology and IT support to the girls. It was a humbling experience hearing some of the support requests come through for things that I took for granted having been exposed to IT devices, software and systems for most of my career.
 

What motivates you at work?

I have a growth mindset and the tech industry allows me to constantly feed this need to always be growing – that is what motivates me every day at work. I love knowing that I am on the cutting-edge of technology and creating things that can change people’s lives for the better. I also love being around clever people and having stimulating conversations. It is exciting and every day is different. I have a very inquisitive mind so being in tech fulfils this need.
 

What is your advice for women wanting to pursue a career in tech?

Don’t be put off by thinking a career in tech is for men and that being female will make it harder for you to succeed. Be yourself and know your strengths. Acknowledge that being female may highlight strengths that are not readily found in our male counterparts. Having diversity in a team or company brings better results as it generates more creativity and ideas to discuss.  

The career paths in tech are diverse and wide-reaching. It is a growing industry so you will – hopefully – never be without a job, and it is one that pays well. In the right company with the right people, you will be well supported in achieving all that you desire.