What a VP of IT Operations at EAH Housing wishes they had known before entering the IT industry
Leslie wishes someone had emphasized that formal education, while valuable for setting expectations, doesn't fully prepare one for the dynamic reality of IT, stating, "all the years that I had in school never is gonna prepare you for the real world." Instead, the role requires constant learning and adaptation, especially now with rapidly evolving technologies like AI, where practical experience trumps theoretical knowledge.
Industry Realities, Continuous Learning, Adaptability, Technology, Executive/Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Leslie Dabi
VP, IT Operations
EAH Housing (EAH Inc.)
UC Davis
Purdue Global University: MS Information Technology
Spanish & Other Languages, International Relations & Affairs
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking, Real Estate
Cyber Security and IT
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. The real world experience is invaluable and often cannot be fully replicated by academic learning. College provides a foundation, but continuous learning and adaptation are crucial for success, especially in the ever-evolving field of IT.
2. A significant part of the role involves constant reaction and adaptation to new threats and technologies. This requires proactive measures like business continuity plans and reaction plans, but also the ability to quickly respond to emerging challenges.
3. The emergence of new technologies like AI requires careful consideration regarding their implementation and potential impact on the organization. Evaluating the benefits and risks of such tools is a critical aspect of the role.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
Gosh, I think all the years I spent in school never prepared me for the real world, especially in practice. We're always responding to things, even when we prepare business continuity and reaction plans.
Consider all the new threats and technology, like AI. We're constantly trying to respond and adapt to these changes. What's good AI, and what's bad AI? Everyone has these cool AI tools. Do we download them? Do we use them at our organization?
All those years in school, as I mentioned earlier, don't prepare you. It was great, and it gave you expectations of what's required in a position and the things to look for.
But I just don't want people to think that because you have a college degree, you'll be great at this. I'm constantly learning. Some of what I learned in college, I could throw out the door. Once you get into the real world, you're not prepared until you actually have the experience.