2024 – A Look Back

2024 was a pretty busy year for me.  It was one marked with change as I shifted the beginning of the year into my role at Silk as Director of Data and AI.  We began focusing heavily on my abilities to navigate the technology landscape and identify what was required as a company at Silk to make the most of it.  As I had time, I was heavily involved at DZone writing content on a slew of topics, which I really enjoyed. 

I think the biggest surprise was that you realize with a small pivot, tech is often handled the same and goes through the same challenges, no matter how unique it thinks it is from other technologies.

I began using my contract hours outside of Silk towards Redgate in May, working with their teams as an engineer, but soon, the marketing team approached me and asked me if I’d be interested in joining Redgate fulltime as their fourth advocate, focusing on Oracle and then other technology in the future.  I’d been working with Redgate as an author since 2011, had known a number of folks from the company, including Steve Jones, Grant Fritchey and Kathi Kellenberger for almost as long.  I was really impressed with Redgate as a company and that continues as an employee.  Since joining in October in my role as advocate, I still get to lean in and be an engineer, work with the product team and roadmap, which I enjoy, plus Silk has stayed with me, just switching over to my contract role outside of Redgate (because, as we joke, I don’t think rules around traditional employment applies to me. :))

Lots of 2024 Content

All while this has been going on, I was speaking at events, doing webinars, writing and blogging.  In total, I completed the following:

• Microsoft Platform Tech Sessions – 8
• Global Events – 2
• PostgreSQL Platform Tech Sessions – 2
• Tech Keynotes – 2
• Women in Technology Panels/Sessions – 4
• DEI/Neurodiversity Sessions – 3
• Podcasts – 3
• Webinars – 7

I worked with my fellow Data Platform DEI leadership team to lead, put together and put on a full day of Neurodiversity talks and helped with the May Mental Health day, too.

I actively mentored six individuals this year in tech, as well as took on a new mentee from Tulane.

• DBAKevlar posts for 2024: 18
• DZone content: 8 articles, 1 reference card, 1 trend report
• Silk Content: Between blogs, white papers and webinars, I lost count!
• LinkedIn Learning: 10 hrs of content built and produced with the awesome LinkedIn Learning team!

What does 2025 hold?

I’ve already accepted a few speaking sessions, including a few more keynotes and a number of podcasts.  I’m looking forward to doing more Simple Talk podcasts, the upcoming Redgate Summits throughout the US and the world, as I speak on relational and AI topics. 

I’m fully engaged, working with our engineering teams as we build out or enhance the products at Redgate.  I am thankful for the great teams and company I work with.  It’s been a great journey to get where I am today and I’m thankful for the opportunity to work with such a great company as Redgate!