Critical Careers - Women Building Careers in Digital Infrastructure - Book - Page 44
Critical Careers
MID CAREER
Looking back at your early years in the
industry, what experiences most shaped
the professional you? today?
I came into the data centre industry a little unexpectedly, but it
turned out to be a very good surprise. I had always been interested
in technology, and I was drawn to the way construction and IT come
together in this sector, so it felt like a natural 昀椀t.
A big in昀氀uence on me in those early years was Brenda, a woman
who managed me in my 昀椀rst job after university. She became both a
mentor and a friend, and at a time when I felt quite intimidated by the
professional world, she really helped me build con昀椀dence in myself.
I was still 昀椀guring out what direction I wanted to take, and she was
someone who always encouraged me to re昀氀ect on what I had learned,
what I could offer, and how I could keep growing. That support (the
lessons from her mentorship, the lessons from having a mentor in those
early days) stayed with me through every career move.
Darlene
de los Santos
TECHNICAL PROGRAMME CONTROLLER | KAO DATA
42
“Having that support has taken
away a lot of stress and made it
possible to keep developing my
career while also being present
as a mother.”
