The power of community is in its conversation, and this week, the women are speaking.
At C2C, we believe sharing journeys can provide the motivation, inspiration, or belief others need to either take their first steps or keep going.
In that spirit, we're honoring Women's History Month by having career conversations with the women from our global community, culminating on International Women's Day on March 8, 2021.
Today we're featuring Heather Tran, West regional lead technical account manager at SADA.
How would you introduce yourself?
Tran has worked as a technical engineer and has authored and edited all Google Cloud internal billing documentation. She is exceptionally knowledgeable about Google Cloud Platform products and services, enabling her to ensure her customers are thriving on the platform.
Get to know Tran in her own words.
Tell us about your tech path.
Tran doesn't have a traditional technical background. Instead, she began her career as an academic advisor, encouraging students to pursue STEM.
Listen to her explain how she successfully pivoted.
What was it like getting started in tech?
After Tran's brother encouraged her to pursue a tech career, she still had to channel the belief herself and turn a possibility into a reality.
Hear her explain how she navigated getting started as peers held more skills and experience, how she found purpose and is now working with clients trying to cure cancer.
How did you get started with Google Cloud?
Tran began in mobile app development and soon moved to DevOps engineering. She had an opportunity to go to Apple, where she would have sifted through the Java code of their iTunes product, but instead, she chose Google as a support specialist and worked her way up by earning certifications and seeking training.
Learn about the importance of researching certifications to supplement your education and experience.
What does it mean to you to be a woman in tech? Have you felt "imposter syndrome?"
As you may know, imposter syndrome, as defined by the Harvard Business Review, feels like you're not worthy of your success. It's also "doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. It disproportionately affects high-achieving people, who find it difficult to accept their accomplishments. Many question whether they're deserving of accolades."
Hear about Tran's experience with it.
Women are often said to experience this, but others do, too. Some argue that women shouldn't be said to experience it anymore and change their language. Others say that speaking about it openly will foster more significant support to combat it. Hear about how Tran feels on the issue.
What advice about getting started in a career in Google Cloud?
Tran doesn't hold back and states that it's not going to be easy. But that doesn't mean it's not impossible to have a career like hers, too.
Hear about what she says to do.
How can the community best get in touch with you?
Connect with Heather Tran on the C2C Community platform or LinkedIn.
As a former journalist, I am already ready for a good story. So, tell me a story! Reach me at sabina.bhasin@c2cglobal.com, or comment below.
