1. What's one challenge you've overcome in your tech career that shaped you?
One challenge that significantly shaped my tech career was overcoming my fear of public speaking. Early on, I found it daunting to present technical topics to large audiences and often avoided such situations. However, as my career progressed, I recognized that effective communication was an essential skill. This was vital, not just for sharing ideas, but for leadership and collaboration.
I made a conscious effort to improve by seeking out opportunities to present, starting small and gradually building confidence. A major turning point came when I delivered a talk to over 800 attendees at a technology conference in Dublin. That experience was a milestone for me, both personally and professionally.
While I still feel nervous before speaking, I now see it as a positive energy that drives me to prepare and connect with my audience.
2. What's the boldest idea your team has explored recently?
My work in the Enterprise Architecture team at Allstate is always diverse and exciting. We regularly explore emerging technologies and look for the best ways to use them to enhance our platforms while improving customer experiences.
With the fast-moving world of Artificial Intelligence, our team has the opportunity to experiment with Generative AI and Agentic frameworks every day. We focus on finding practical ways to apply these technologies to boost productivity, while making sure they scale effectively and include the right safety and governance measures.
3. How does the product model help you stay close to real user needs?
As an Enterprise Architect, the product model helps me stay close to real user needs by anchoring architectural decisions in business outcomes and user value. By adopting a product mindset in Allstate, we prioritize understanding the problem thoroughly before designing any solutions, ensuring alignment with customer needs. This approach shapes the product vision and guides every architectural choice I make; whether it's about scalability, integration, or technology adoption. As a result, our decisions are aligned with solving real problems for our customers.
4. What's one piece of advice you'd give your younger self starting out in tech?
Honestly, there are a few. Keep learning and embrace change. Don't be afraid to make a mistake; the lessons will be invaluable to you. Seek to fully understand the problems you're attempting to solve before solutioning. Get the technology foundations right and keep things simple.
5. What's your favourite way to unwind after a big delivery milestone?
I have a passion for food and really enjoy cooking at home. During lockdown, I upgraded my barbeque and now use it all year round, regardless of the weather. For me, it's a fantastic way to relax and unwind.
