Hi! My name’s Mel and I’m a thirty-six years old female working at KrakenFlex!

Wow, where has that time gone? I studied Sport Science at Uni, and ever since have been working in the Tech industry. How did I get into Tech with a BSc I hear you cry? No idea really!! At the time I joined Accenture as a grad, (one of the biggest global system integrators) who were looking for well-rounded people and no technology experience was required. Although I always had a passion for techy things, I had no idea how to code, build stuff or speak the lingo. But the joy of technology is that it is a skill that can be learnt, and over the last 15 years or so, it’s been about learning how to bring people, processes and technology together – in order to deliver a whole range of products and services.  

Joining a consultancy was a great basis for my career, working on a whole array of different projects, for a variety of diverse clients. Ranging from merging banking IT systems in London, rolling out new hardware and software for airlines in Europe, testing system defects in India, to developing customer service catalogues in Australia. I was privileged to travel the world and learn from a wide range of different people – and how to solve some serious wicked problems. 

Technology is often an enabler to help solve a whole raft of issues. It is also global, and as such, I was able to move to the other side of the world and continue to work on some of the most exciting projects. It was here I led a project deploying smart meters for an energy company, and then decided I wanted to work in Industry and solve some of the energy problems from the inside! On the other side of the fence, being able to understand a whole range of problems and solutions from my time as a consultant, enabled me to have an open mind and tackle problems from a different angle. 

I have since moved back to the UK and have managed to bring together my love of technology and energy and now work for KrakenFlex – trying to enable more renewable energy that is affordable for all. Utilising scalable and smart technology that can control millions and millions of devices in real time, will allow for grids around the world to balance supply and demand, which is essential as we look to decarbonise the economy. 

What is great to remember about technology, is that it is such a broad term, and it is applicable to almost all industries. You don’t need to have a PhD in Electrical Engineering or Aeronautical science to be successful, and it’s something that you can learn and develop as you progress through your career. As a (once) young female in Tech, I felt like I was in the minority and that I was almost an imposter – working in the Tech world without any formal qualification. But I would encourage everyone to not be deterred by the label “Tech”, as it too could allow for a career which is diverse, global and extremely rewarding!