Discovering Career Clarity in Tech: Andrea Seale’s Journey of Reinvention
Internationally-celebrated yoga teacher Kathryn Budig once said, “Your passions will grow as you continue to grow, so remember, it’s never too late to reinvent yourself or pursue the latest things that make you light up.”
That’s precisely what Andrea Seale is embracing in this stage of her life. With a background in Product Improvement and Quality Assurance, she now seeks to approach her work through a more human-centred lens, while incorporating various related passions. In this candid conversation, Andrea shares the career complexities she faces and highlights the value and support she anticipates as a new member of The ROOM, while navigating her professional journey in tech.
Tell us a bit about what you do?
I am a Product and Process Improvement professional, currently pivoting my career to focus on Product and Change Management through the lens of human-centred design.
What motivated you to join The ROOM community?
I was drawn to The ROOM because it offers a community of tech professionals who are dedicated to excelling in their careers. I was also intrigued by the concept of having a talent advisor who advocates for your current aspirations and collaborates with you on your career journey.
What career puzzle are you working to solve right now?
One thing that’s proving a challenge is merging all of my passions into this new career I’m building. I find fulfilment in problem-solving and improvement, change management, human-centred design, coaching, facilitation, promoting good governance, addressing justice issues (DEIBJ) and refining processes using my curious nature. Combining these passions and my aspiration to work in a collaborative space presents an exhilarating career puzzle to unravel.
In what ways could your key skills support your vision for success in your desired career?
I have a knack for system optimisation, coupled with a keen eye for discovering improvement opportunities. I am able to successfully drive process changes to arrive at substantial resource savings for clients. By reducing unnecessary noise in a business, I am able to free up valuable time for more important tasks. For instance, I have implemented a streamlined workflow in a service stream, enabling clients to quickly self-solve, leading to faster problem resolution and more positive customer reviews.
These skills have had a tangible impact on improving efficiency and customer satisfaction in the places I’ve worked in, and I’m confident they will contribute to my success in whatever role I occupy.
What are your thoughts on the future of technology and innovation, and how do you see them contributing to your line of work?
As we innovate using digital, AI and advanced automation, we need to be even more focused on being human-centred. People’s stories and uniqueness, including emotional makeup, culture, and intersectionalities, beyond the obvious, need to be constantly considered through collaborative processing. We can achieve significant innovation in products and enhancements with these new technologies if we prioritise active listening and collaboration. This will ensure the comfort and buy-in of users, and ultimately, the success of the products.
If you could give one piece of advice to young professionals looking to enter your field of work, what would it be?
Take your time to be curious. Have a learner’s mindset. Know who you are, and align what you do with what you enjoy and value. Don’t be scared to change, move and progress in your career. In essence, advocate for your own success.
A community for the world’s most exceptional people in technology, The ROOM represents top-tier tech talent and helps them secure exclusive opportunities with companies around the world.
To find out more about this passionate community of technology professionals, visit www.theroom.com and discover how you can join the top 5% of your peers already transforming their careers.
