I didn't understand segmented networks. Software just does what you tell it to do. It was enough to start with. Today Minder is a business analyst and applications manager, currently working on contract for the IT director of American Fiber and Yarn, a divested entity of BP Amoco, which is based in Chicago. Minder's story is a familiar one to techies who have ascended the IT ranks from small potatoes to big cheese.
Successful techies say that movin' on up depends on a continuous fight for further education.
It's also important to know when to jump ship or maintain momentum within the corporate structure. Learning on the job Minder credits much of her early technological know-how to her boss, who let her do things outside her normal routine. She remembers, however, that some fellow technologists were not exactly generous with their knowledge. I had to work. After four years of absorbing the technology around her, Minder was working with the help desk, assisting the LAN and email admin, and helping to manage consultants.