Project manager ICT | Youth Central

Job Title: Project Manager
Name: Adrienne
Age: Late 20s
Works for: Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

"Go for it, especially if you’re a girl! There are enormous opportunities for women to get into ICT."

Tell us what you do, Adrienne.

I work at a large consultancy, called Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. In my area, we investigate the security of clients' ICT infrastructure and environment. Most of my work revolves around project management - which involves leading a team to get a particular job done, on time, within budget and with minimal risk.

I spend a lot of time communicating with both technical and business related staff, so for this sort of work you need strong interpersonal skills - so you can work well with a wide range of different people.

I’ve already gained some really worthwhile experience consulting on multi-million dollar projects. And through work, I’ve also been able to travel extensively within Australia and overseas.

ICT. Where did it all begin for you?

During secondary school I was interested in outdoor education but I decided to focus on accounting and business because it was more practical. It wasn't until I started university, which coincided with a push to recruit women into the ICT industry, that I actually considered ICT as a career option.

I completed a double degree in Computer Science and Business Accounting at Latrobe University and was accepted as a graduate at Deloitte, initially working on ICT and financial auditing. After completing my professional year to become a Certified Chartered Accountant it was time to choose whether to focus on accounting or security services. I saw that there were growing opportunities in the ICT sector, so I chose security services.

What do you like about your job?

The flexibility and the opportunities within ICT mean that everyday is a challenge. There are a lot of travel opportunities and the work varies a lot. Working at Deloitte exposes me to highly driven people and a wide range of products and services.

What skills do you need for your job?

Basically you need to understand three components - the people, the processes and the technology. It is important to know how people gain access to networks and applications and to keep up with all the security applications and products on the market.

It is also essential to have a broad understanding of current technology, to be able to implement security controls for ICT systems. While you can’t be an expert in all areas, it is important to understand the relevant business applications, system architecture, basic programming languages and network configuration.

Is there anything you would change?

The rate of change can be overwhelming. There can be the occasional issue maintaining a balance between life at work and life beyond work.

Where do you see your career going next?

Becoming a partner at Deloitte would be the next exciting step. Working as a key Account and Sales partner appeals to me.

What advice would you give to anyone considering a career in ICT?

Go for it, especially if you’re a girl! There are enormous opportunities for women to get into ICT.

I think it's also worth considering doing a double degree in ICT and Business, which will place in context how to do your job and why you are doing it. It allows you to understand how the systems can assist the business to become more competitive in the market place.

Find out more about this career path at myfuture.edu.au (Note: free registration is required to access the myfuture site).