March 8th is International Women’s Day. The mission of IWD for Women in Tech is to celebrate digital advancement and champion women forging innovation through technology. CleanSlate is celebrating by recognizing the women on our team all week long. Follow along each day to learn more about them, their roles, and why they believe celebrating IWD is important.
WOMEN OF CLEANSLATE
Name: Anna Pullman-Rainbolt
City: Clayton, IN
Occupation: Director of IT Operations
Tell us about yourself:
I am a 33 year and have worked for a variety of corporations within Indianapolis and surrounding areas. Being in IT for over 30 years, I have certainly witnessed the evolvement of technology, as well as, the growth of women in the profession. I attended college to obtain a Psychology Education Degree. However, soon found myself working in IT. My first System Administration position was obtained primarily because I knew more Unix commands than the others applying for the same position – yes – there was a test. This was a unique role working for a company that had over 95% women. As a young professional, this provided me with many mentors to grow and learn from. Further roles extended my knowledge – landing such roles administering and architecting collaborative spaces for very large corporations. Today, I am proud to be the Director of IT Operations for CleanSlate Technology group going on 7 years and truly enjoy its team atmosphere.
Who is your biggest influence?
There are a few within my career I can attribute and thank for their guidance, education, and leadership; starting with my mother and aunt. They both took me under their wings while they managed a business they owned with my father and uncle. Today, my husband is certainly an influencer and my biggest supporter.
How would you define women’s empowerment?
Inclusion, Partnership, Respect.
What did you want to be growing up?
I believed I would be a teacher and a running coach.
If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be?
IT degrees were very sparse at the time. If you told me then I would be working on computers today I would have laughed. So stay focused on those business classes and extend yourself to computer opportunities to get a faster kickstart in your career. Remember, It’s ok to be you, and don’t take feedback personally – learn from it. Oh, and “get it in writing” – that is always good advice.
What do you enjoy most about your role and working at CleanSlate?
I like that I am never bored. I enjoy the variety of technology areas I get to work in – from procurement to managing routers. My goal is to enable our team to get their job done, making our clients happy.
Is it important to celebrate IWD?
Yes – as well as a IMD. We all play a part and appreciated for their perspectives and efforts they bring everyday.
Why do you think it is important for young girls to consider roles in STEM?
I believe there are more girls including themselves in these educational areas. I believe all young people should be exposed to STEM, Art, and Music. They all work together to grow your mind. The challenge with STEM, is they are not always taught to show the value and the end result of an equation or how the theory can be applied. From here you can see accomplishment, growth, and the fun of applying new ideas.
What are the main challenges facing women in IT presently? How do we overcome them?
Opportunity – which I believe is shifting. Overall, to get the job, you have to position yourself to be the best option. Be a sponge and learn – not just about the technology – but about the people for whom you are delivering the technology.