Women of GTconsult
In honour of Women's Month, we are celebrating the stories of women at GTconsult who inspire us every day.
Jacqui Smit- SharePoint Developer
Meet Jacqui, a SharePoint Developer at GTconsult and a highly skilled technical consultant. With her expertise as a solution architect, software developer, and builder of automated workflows, Jacqui plays a pivotal role in helping clients unlock the full potential of Microsoft technologies.
We asked Jacqui to answer 10 questions to better understand her as well as the role she is in. Let's get to know this awesome lady!
1. What did you want to be when you grew up, and what led you to your current career path?
1. What did you want to be when you grew up, and what led you to your current career path?
I wanted to be like my mom, a business women. She was the 2IC at a lighting company. I didn't know what that meant as a kid.
As technology evolved, PC became an interest of mine, but I didn't know that would become my career.
It started as a joy for making things digitally, which evolved into programming, which became solution development.
2. Which women inspire you to be the best version of yourself, and why?
2. Which women inspire you to be the best version of yourself, and why?
My mother. She is the most aspirational person, regardless of gender. Nothing stopped her. If she wanted to do something, like paving the driveway with a special design,
she taught herself how to do it, bought the bricks, and did it. This was a time before YouTube.
She was always determined, and motivated.
3. Which women are your top three dinner party guests, and what would you ask them?
3. Which women are your top three dinner party guests, and what would you ask them?
Martha Stewart
Angelina Jolie
Sarah Richardson
Same questions for all of them. How do you do so much? How do you balance it all? Also would just love to here stories from there lives.
4. What do you think is the key to building a workplace where women thrive?
4. What do you think is the key to building a workplace where women thrive?
Communication, this means talking to and listening to what they are saying. Not everything can be fixed, well, not straight away anyway.
Motivation and positive reinforcement. People work harder, if they are trying to make the world better.
Teaching and career development, to improve skills.
5. What makes you a strong woman, and what fulfils you in your personal and professional life?
5. What makes you a strong woman, and what fulfils you in your personal and professional life?
6. Why do you think it’s important for more women to join the tech industry?
6. Why do you think it’s important for more women to join the tech industry?
Women tend to see the bigger picture. So, when creating a solution, they are able to think past just the basic problem, to solve the issue in a more universal way, not just add a "button".
7. What advice would you give to yourself or someone else just starting out in your field?
7. What advice would you give to yourself or someone else just starting out in your field?
Fail fast, and don't get stuck with decision paralysis. Rather do something, than not, because you are to worried to get it wrong.
When you start, you will do lots of things wrong. Fail fast, learn and improve.
8. What motivates you to excel?
8. What motivates you to excel?
I am motivated by solving problems.
9. What are your goals for the next few years, both professionally and personally?
9. What are your goals for the next few years, both professionally and personally?
Working in the tech industry the constant is to keep up with the ever changing landscape. Teach people more about tech, and watch them grow and evolve.
10. What message or piece of advice would you like to share with other women pursuing similar careers?
10. What message or piece of advice would you like to share with other women pursuing similar careers?
Do what makes you happy. If your job makes you happy, it stops being work, and becomes fun. But don't let it consume you, make sure to keep a work-life balance.
Jacqui is an invaluable addition to the GTconsult team, bringing a wealth of expertise as a SharePoint Developer. As a solution architect, software developer, and builder of automated workflows, her technical skills are matched only by her passion for teaching others how to maximize their productivity with the powerful tools offered by Microsoft. Her contributions have significantly enhanced our team's capabilities, and her dedication to innovation and knowledge-sharing is truly inspiring.
We look forward to the continued impact she will have here at GTconsult. Here’s to Jacqui—a remarkable woman who embodies the values and strengths that make our team thrive.