Nellie Scott is at the top of her game with Lenovo, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of personal computers. She serves as director of sales support & enablement, supporting the sellers and companies that sell Lenovo products and services.
And she managed to advance her career without a four-year college degree. How?
“I’m living proof that you can beat the odds,” she says.
Scott was born in Mexico. When her parents moved the family to the United States, she soon became their interpreter, after an ESL teacher in her elementary school dedicated her personal time to teaching her English in 30 days.
“It’s real easy to be one of those kids who falls through the cracks.” Fortunately, her determination didn’t let her give up. She took whatever opportunities came to her, and parlayed one opportunity into another in order to build her career.
When she was 19, she could see first-hand that “software was changing.” She had learned how to type on electric typewriters, but was working as a secretary at a law firm when she saw computers begin making their way into the workplace. “Companies weren’t training people. I learned how to use a computer by shouting out questions and answers over cubicle walls.”
To get the computer know-how she needed, Nellie stepped into a CompUSA store. “I volunteered as a weekend trainer just so I could get trained on Microsoft Office applications. You have to be resourceful. ‘Can I borrow the manual for Microsoft Excel? Can I borrow your computer?’ As in any industry, you have to be resourceful and take charge of your own professional development. One of the best ways to learn what you don’t know is to network and surround yourself with people who are willing to share their knowledge.”
CompUSA hired her full time, and she stayed with the company for seven years, eventually moving into the national director of sales role in Dallas.
Scott went on to work for Dell to build a new business unit supporting servers and storage products and attained $60 million in annual sales in just five years.
It didn’t happen overnight, but it started with something inside her.
“When you are 18, your attitude will determine how people respond to you. If you are open and embrace opportunity, people will go out of their way to coach and develop you. They will make an investment, but they have to see something: a positive attitude, and energy, a thirst for knowledge.”
“One of the things about the IT industry is you have to love change. The only thing that is constant in IT is change.”
An Early Adopter
At most organizations, the IT department has more men than women. Scott adapted early. She learned to like football so that she’d have something to break the ice and use as a basis for conversation. “Even guys do this,” she points out. “They will do their homework on Sunday and read the sports page, too, to have something to talk about on Monday.”
Scott recommends learning the technology aspect first, as a way to get your foot in the door. But technological know-how isn’t the only asset that drives success: a can-do attitude, strong motivation and analytical skills are all important soft skills that can help immensely.
Financial skills are also often under-rated. Being able to understand a budget and performance reports are essential, Scott says, if you aim to move up in an organization. Adding to what she learned on the job, she received a strong financial background at the University of Southern California, where she completed a two-year business management program while she was working.
Scott is used to giving good advice — and knows how to accept it, too. She recommends that everyone find an advisory board — a group of professionals you can turn to when you run into obstacles in your job or career. “You can’t just have one good mentor. You need to be well-rounded.”
Scott is actively involved with Dress for Success, a program to help women perform well in job interviews and become successful professionals. She also has coached dozens of men and women both within and outside her company. She advises that people first assess their strengths, rather than focus on trouble-spots. “I expect the people I coach to have a clear understanding of their core competencies. What I help them do is translate those competencies to the business environment.”
Where Should Someone Start?
“Getting a foot in the door in any way that you can is key. Whether it is the software, or bringing value to the customer, or whether you find a passion for saving on costs, somewhere along the line you will find something that really excites you. But you have to get your foot in the door to find out what it is.” Software developers are perhaps the most visible workers in the computing industry, but they are just the tip of the iceberg. There are hundreds if not thousands of job descriptions in the IT industry.
Take the first step, says Scott.
“Through any kind of exposure in the IT industry, you will eventually find your passion.”
Eric Larson is the director of marketing and communications for the Creating IT Futures Foundation.
