“This is a man’s world”, James Brown sang in his all-time classic, attributing the works of modern civilization, such as cars, trains or electricity, to the efforts of men. Fortunately, a lot has changed since the 60s, when the record originally hit the airwaves, as more and more women join the technology scene. She tells us that having become an expert in computer networks allowed her to simply be herself. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Vera Lebedeva – Presales Manager at OCS Distribution and the first woman to enter the Extreme Hero program!
Software engineering, computer networks, distributed systems, modern technologies – it still may sound like a man’s world. Fortunately, the times are changing, but how do you remember your first steps in the industry?
I always knew I would pursue a technical career – I think I took after my dad and grandfather. When I was six, I remember having so much fun translating numbers from decimal system to binary. So I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise that mathematics and physics became my favorite subjects in school and, later on, followed me closely during my time at the Bauman Moscow State Technical University. Sure, it was a man’s world back then. But ever since childhood, it was also my world and I wouldn’t have traded it for anything. I had to prove that I could think like a man too. Once my high school classmates accepted me as “one of the gang”, we made great friends and had a lot of fun together. There was a lot of drive and sharp competition, but in a good way. I remember that on the third year, after the exams session, one of the fellow students told us that he had passed the CCNA exam. And I got so envious… even though I didn’t even know what these four letters stood for at that time! So yes, that was my first challenge in a nutshell. And that’s how my path towards becoming a network engineer began.
Has anything changed since then?
Nowadays we are seeing more and more women coming to the IT industry, telecommunications in particular. At the early stage of my career, most customers and partners reacted rather strangely to me saying I’m a network engineer. But now, more often than not, it’s perceived normally. At least when I’m wearing casually. Every now and then, though, a dress and high heels still do tend to raise some eyebrows (laughs). These are the prevailing stereotypes, I guess. :) But there is no need to prove anything else, since I know that I am an expert in computer networks and I can answer almost any question in this regard. It gives me a lot of confidence, as well as the opportunity to simply be myself.
You are the first woman to enter the Extreme Hero program. What does it feel like?
Well, I feel very welcome here. :) And I hope that the rest of the Hero team feels the same way!
What was your journey to the Extreme Hero program like? What made you want to join this club?
My first contact with Extreme and the Russian team was back in 2012, when I was working as a system integrator and we had projects involving Extreme equipment. Since 2017, I have been actively promoting Extreme’s solutions as a presale engineer at OCS, so becoming part of the Extreme Hero program was a natural move for me. I try to participate in all Extreme initiatives and activities, since not only does this allow me to constantly develop my knowledge and keep up with the latest trends and technological advancements, but it also brings together a wonderful community of super cool, creative people.
How is your typical day at work? What professional challenges do you like the most in your job?
In terms of working hours, my day is filled up mostly with meetings, presentations and training seminars for our partners and customers. Apart from that, I get to travel a lot around the country and maintain relations with lots of different people. And I really like it! Of course, preparation and verification of the specification makes up a vital element of the job description. But it’s like brushing your teeth – you have to do it every day, without really thinking about it. Because, as a matter of fact, my work is an integral part of my life. When you have a passion, you can’t really switch it “on” and “off”. I may come up with an idea for an interesting presentation slide right before bedtime and preparing it will be the best activity for the evening! I love the feeling when I can offer a smart, non-standard solution for the case, granting an “all-win” situation for both Extreme and OCS, both the partner and the customer.
What’s your preferred situation: the client approaches you with concrete needs and ideas so you can cut to the chase, or you help client decide what is the best solution for their problem / requirement?
Both, I guess. But in any case, I listen carefully first, because the more the customer has to say, the better. In most cases, customers have already gotten acquainted with the presentations, read about our solutions and managed to form their ideas. My task is to help them either confirm their choice, or offer something better.
Machine learning, automation, artificial intelligence… You must be familiar with all the current trends in networking! Do you think that one day machines may replace people?
Whenever I hear about AI, the film “Terminator” immediately pops into my mind. I don’t believe our future looks that grim, though :) Although all mechanical and routine tasks can be handed down to machines, I don’t really think we can teach them creativity. I guess that this beautiful chaos which we call “life”, cannot be simply described by algorithms…
Do you feel like a hero at work sometimes? :)
Definitely! :) I feel that my work has a purpose and a meaning. It’s empowering. We have an excellent team and every single member of our group is a true hero in his respective field.
Wish to join Vera and other wonderful people from the Extreme Heroes team? Learn more about the program and start your registration process today!
