My Journey is…

Lella Violet - IBM Z Ambassador

What is your role as an IBM Z Ambassador?

As an IBM Z Ambassador I had the rare and valuable opportunity to connect with the real-time world of tech volunteering alongside industry leaders and feeling that my voice, opinions & ideas were well and truly heard, especially at a time where I felt my voice and that of my peers were not eminent amongst wider society or our communities due to the ongoing pandemic drastically changing our rite of passage. The Z Ambassador program became my dream classroom environment, where industry leaders were our teachers, exposing us to not just technical skills and building opportunities but professional and personal also. Creating, collaborating on and leading initiatives was wonderful and working with IBM to demystify the tech industry by the creation of new initiatives and frequent webinars or communications on the IBM Z Global Student Hub was remarkable.

What inspired you to get involved with the Z Ambassador program?

I've always been interested in tech from a young age as it truly does touch every aspect of our daily lives. By joining the Z Ambassador program and volunteering with IBM Z over the last 18 months I’ve been able to explore ‘technology beyond the textbooks’. At school, I study English Literature, History and Politics, and then ‘by night’ I log into my virtual world where I connect with people globally, seeing the power that technology has to bring us all together during these anomalous times & beyond when it comes to solving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It's been so great to really combine both of those interests of mine, and using technology for a greater good, not allowing it to consume me but rather using it as my catalyst to work towards the goals and aspirations I have for my professional career.

What were some of the challenges or highlights throughout your journey as a Z Ambassador?

I definitely think that it has been one massive learning journey. When I first heard about IBM Z I said gosh, to be an ambassador that's quite a big responsibility to take on. Then I had a shift in mindset and realized that more than anything the program was my opportunity to learn, with industry leaders as our teachers, and have fun. I was able to pick up technical skills and work alongside industry experts and students who are rocking it within the enterprise computing field, and each of us brought our own edge. I didn't want to go to job interviews and have them ask me what I did during the pandemic and say, I fell into an abyss of banana bread baking (though it is delicious!), but rather I wanted to be able to explain how I turned my worst nightmare into my superpower, remained curious, and the Z Ambassador program was the catalyst to do just that. The highlights were really overcoming that adversity, and developing academically, professionally and personally.

How did the program help you develop these skills?

I think that by having a kind of real time learning opportunity and expanding my network, enabled me to see tech beyond the textbooks. Where it's not just this data driven maths heavy subject but rather seeing how it can be used to work towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Tech4Good. In terms of professional development, my network has quadrupled at a global scale, in terms of the IBMers and students that I've met, as well as the opportunity to develop my technical skills and learn about organisation, time management and working with different members from across the world. But definitely, the Z Ambassador program changed my 2020 year entirely.

What advice would you give for a young person who is thinking of applying to be a Z Ambassador?

It really is this penalty free learning opportunity for people to come and grow, as I said, academically, professionally and personally. I'd also say bring your unapologetic self, I think it's important that we don't just have our hackers, but we also have our hustlers, our hipsters and our humanitarians because that cognitive diversity is so important. I just say be unapologetically yourself as IBM will adjust and is eager to hear your voice. Be brave, not perfect, and sign up for this opportunity. I definitely do believe that the more you give, the more you get. By actually putting your ideas out there I think you'll find that the team around this Z Ambassador program will be likely to implement that more than perhaps you realise, and it really is an empowering feeling to know that your voice is being heard is a really great feeling.

To learn more about the IBM Z Ambassador program and apply, click here.

You can find out more about Lella’s work at lellaviolet.com

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