Lori Meierdiercks graduated from OU in 2011 with a BSC in Information and Telecommunication Systems and a minor in business. Her goal was to enter the business side of the IT industry upon graduation, and she now has over ten years of experience in ITS account directing and management.
At 22 years old, Meierdiercks entered the IT industry with an internship at CenturyLink. She had to quickly shift her focus from being a young college graduate to a professional in the IT world. Although Meierdiercks’ studies at OU set her up with foundational knowledge of the field, her understanding of CenturyLink’s specific needs and functions developed throughout the eight years she spent at the company.
“There were tools that I didn't know that I needed to be aware of, or just specifics, when it comes to the product set within [CenturyLink] and what the pros and cons are working with that organization,” said Meierdiercks. “So, a lot of that are things that I would learn while I was there working with the other individuals that were on my team and going to trainings.”
Meierdiercks was a member of The Ralph and Luci Schey Sales Centre, starting at the end of her sophomore year at OU, where she found the internship with CenturyLink. The Schey Sales Centre offers students the networking tools they need in careers for every major. With a minor in business, Meierdiercks also spent a lot of time in communication, sales, and business courses, learning how to effectively communicate with customers and address their needs within the IT industry.
“A lot of what you're going to learn is on the job. So, what you learned in college is going to be this high-level overview of what you're actually going to be doing on a day-to-day basis,” said Meierdiercks.
Historically, ITS is a male-dominated industry which was an obstacle Meierdiercks quickly overcame in her early career. Instead of enjoying time meeting and working with peers in positions like herself, Meierdiercks was surrounded by men with years of career experience which allowed her to develop her own career early on.
“On one side, I was jealous because I think [meeting peers] is something that you'd strive for when you're in a new world, just graduating,” said Meierdiercks. “But on the flip side, I am 10 years plus beyond in my career than most of my peers. So, it definitely launched me into this world.”
At CenturyLink, Meierdiercks was more often than not the only woman entering male-dominated workspaces and meetings, making it difficult to relate to the people she was working with. As she entered higher-level positions at CenturyLink, like Account manager and director, she was able to adapt to the nature of the IT workplace and realize how important diversity is in the field.
“If you have a good head on your shoulders and you are confident and you’re knowledgeable, you use it to your advantage,” said Meierdiercks. “I'm able to relate more now. I'm used to it, and I'm thrown into that situation all the time.”
In 2019, Meierdiercks assumed the Territory Account Managing position at Cisco where she runs all of the company’s small businesses throughout Ohio and Kentucky. Meierdiercks’ transition from CenturyLink to Cisco was sparked by her long-awaited aspiration to one-day work for Cisco mixed with perfect timing.
At a Women in IT event in Cincinnati, Meierdiercks met a woman working for Cisco who would soon be changing positions at the company, allowing Meierdiercks to accept the Account Territory Manager position. At these events, and many others like it, women interested in the IT industry have the opportunity to successfully network with those who have already established careers in the field.
“Once [students] graduate, [they are] looking for that internship or that first job, but from there, most of the positions that I have gotten have been through networking,” said Meierdiercks. “It's all about who you know, and not what you know. So, the more you put yourself out there and build your brand the easier it will be for you to grow in your career.”
For a global organization like Cisco, diversity is a key factor to the success and growth of the company in IT. With different perspectives, Cisco workers’ depth of knowledge from diverse life experiences only advances the company’s success.
“Everything from the executive leadership team and down, you will not see a lot of just the white male. There will be a ton of different genders that are thrown into there, as well as backgrounds,” said Meierdiercks. “I think that with the way that the world is shifting, hopefully a lot of organizations have made that turn as well.”
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