Celebrating our SysAdmins
SysAdmin Day is right around the corner and we're celebrating those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep our organizations running smoothly and securely. Every year, on the last Friday of July, a whole day is dedicated to recognizing, celebrating and appreciating the vital roles of System Administrators. From managing servers and automating processes to troubleshooting complex issues and staying ahead of emerging technologies, SysAdmins are at the forefront of driving successful digital transformations for businesses everywhere. And while the role of a SysAdmin has evolved significantly and varies across each organization, it's safe to say we couldn't operate without them.
We caught up with a few CDW System Administrators to learn more about their roles, the most rewarding aspects of their jobs and more.
Elise Duquette
What got you interested in becoming a System Administrator?
I enjoy learning how things work and how they constantly change in technology. System Administration gives me the opportunity to not only work with applications but also learn how they need to change to meet the various user's needs. Especially with the fast-changing pace of technology, I’m always challenged to learn and push myself to understand new things.
What was your path to becoming a System Administrator?
I was originally hired with Sirius under their IT Associate program, which allowed me to work with different IT teams and eventually led me to be placed on the system administrator team. I initially supported a wide variety of applications for the company, but my focus has shifted to specializing in Salesforce. I have since obtained my Salesforce Administrator certification and have been involved in all the different Salesforce instances that we use across CDW.
What's the most common stereotype of being a System Administrator?
Spending all day in front of computers is one of the biggest stereotypes, but I think most people don't understand that there is a lot of engagement with different teams throughout the company. I support all facets of the company, so whether it's sales or accounting, I get to interact with coworkers from all over, and their combined needs go into the daily considerations I must make when supporting our systems.
What advice do you have for others interested in a career in Technology?
Be motivated to learn on your own and seek out additional educational opportunities. The industry is constantly changing and being up to date on the latest technologies and solutions, as well as learning from others in the IT community, is crucial to staying ahead of the curve and being competitive.
Walther Zapata
What was your path to becoming a System Administrator?
I started in the Configurations Center as a computer technician. I held multiple roles in the Configurations Center, such as Enterprise Configuration Area Team Leader and Systems Administrator, where I maintained dynamic images. After 14 years of service in the Configuration Center, I decided to transfer and work in IT. I got certified through CDW’s learning programs and acquired valuable technical and soft skills that led me to become a System Administrator.
What’s the most common stereotype of being a System Administrator?
SysAdmins know everything when actually, it is better to specialize in specific technology because it is very difficult to learn everything. We have general knowledge of other technologies, which gives the impression that “We know Everything.”
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part of my role is being able to help people do great things by solving complex problems. I love mentoring and coaching new team members. And I enjoy learning cutting-edge technologies.
Brian Chan
What was your path to becoming a System Administrator?
I started as a technical support contractor with aspirations of becoming a software engineer. Because of my work ethic, more responsibilities from different roles were assigned to me. With wonderful mentorship, I realized the ways I work actually aligned better with the system administrator role.
What's the most common stereotype of being a System Administrator?
When explaining our job title, many people do not know what a Systems Administrator is. So, we tell them that we are in IT. Because we are in IT, then we must know everything about any system, hardware, or application.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part is the opportunity to work with the team that I am a part of and that we get to learn/grow together. Working from home does not hurt either.
What advice do you have for others interested in a career in Technology?
Have some hands-on experience with most of the Office365 suite. Take some time outside of work to learn extra skills and be knowledgeable of the growing digital landscape. Be ready to adapt, collaborate, and find your niche. This will help to grow your value in our field.
Thank you to Elise, Walther and Brian for participating in our SysAdmin Day celebration. And thank you to all the System Administrators out there for working tirelessly to ensure everything runs smoothly day in and day out, 24/7/365 – we honestly don't know where we would be without you!
SysAdmin Day is right around the corner and we're celebrating those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep our organizations running smoothly and securely. Every year, on the last Friday of July, a whole day is dedicated to recognizing, celebrating and appreciating the vital roles of System Administrators. From managing servers and automating processes to troubleshooting complex issues and staying ahead of emerging technologies, SysAdmins are at the forefront of driving successful digital transformations for businesses everywhere. And while the role of a SysAdmin has evolved significantly and varies across each organization, it's safe to say we couldn't operate without them.
We caught up with a few CDW System Administrators to learn more about their roles, the most rewarding aspects of their jobs and more.
Elise Duquette
What got you interested in becoming a System Administrator?
I enjoy learning how things work and how they constantly change in technology. System Administration gives me the opportunity to not only work with applications but also learn how they need to change to meet the various user's needs. Especially with the fast-changing pace of technology, I’m always challenged to learn and push myself to understand new things.
What was your path to becoming a System Administrator?
I was originally hired with Sirius under their IT Associate program, which allowed me to work with different IT teams and eventually led me to be placed on the system administrator team. I initially supported a wide variety of applications for the company, but my focus has shifted to specializing in Salesforce. I have since obtained my Salesforce Administrator certification and have been involved in all the different Salesforce instances that we use across CDW.
What's the most common stereotype of being a System Administrator?
Spending all day in front of computers is one of the biggest stereotypes, but I think most people don't understand that there is a lot of engagement with different teams throughout the company. I support all facets of the company, so whether it's sales or accounting, I get to interact with coworkers from all over, and their combined needs go into the daily considerations I must make when supporting our systems.
What advice do you have for others interested in a career in Technology?
Be motivated to learn on your own and seek out additional educational opportunities. The industry is constantly changing and being up to date on the latest technologies and solutions, as well as learning from others in the IT community, is crucial to staying ahead of the curve and being competitive.
Walther Zapata
What was your path to becoming a System Administrator?
I started in the Configurations Center as a computer technician. I held multiple roles in the Configurations Center, such as Enterprise Configuration Area Team Leader and Systems Administrator, where I maintained dynamic images. After 14 years of service in the Configuration Center, I decided to transfer and work in IT. I got certified through CDW’s learning programs and acquired valuable technical and soft skills that led me to become a System Administrator.
What’s the most common stereotype of being a System Administrator?
SysAdmins know everything when actually, it is better to specialize in specific technology because it is very difficult to learn everything. We have general knowledge of other technologies, which gives the impression that “We know Everything.”
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part of my role is being able to help people do great things by solving complex problems. I love mentoring and coaching new team members. And I enjoy learning cutting-edge technologies.
Brian Chan
What was your path to becoming a System Administrator?
I started as a technical support contractor with aspirations of becoming a software engineer. Because of my work ethic, more responsibilities from different roles were assigned to me. With wonderful mentorship, I realized the ways I work actually aligned better with the system administrator role.
What's the most common stereotype of being a System Administrator?
When explaining our job title, many people do not know what a Systems Administrator is. So, we tell them that we are in IT. Because we are in IT, then we must know everything about any system, hardware, or application.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part is the opportunity to work with the team that I am a part of and that we get to learn/grow together. Working from home does not hurt either.
What advice do you have for others interested in a career in Technology?
Have some hands-on experience with most of the Office365 suite. Take some time outside of work to learn extra skills and be knowledgeable of the growing digital landscape. Be ready to adapt, collaborate, and find your niche. This will help to grow your value in our field.
Thank you to Elise, Walther and Brian for participating in our SysAdmin Day celebration. And thank you to all the System Administrators out there for working tirelessly to ensure everything runs smoothly day in and day out, 24/7/365 – we honestly don't know where we would be without you!
