For this month’s professional spotlight we are featuring Wintana Yemane. Wintana is a business analyst working in IT systems/software development. Learn more about Wintana and her background.

Could you briefly explain some of your responsibilities in your current career role?

My responsibility as a business analyst is to analyze organizations and their design to help in the development of IT systems/software. Essentially, what that entails is understanding what the business does and how it does it then determining how to improve their existing business processes by deciding which processes to automate. Once what needs to be automated is determined, I typically design the features of the system and work with developers to implement the design.

How did you come to decide that this was the right career path for you?

I believe in this job market it is necessary to be able to adapt to the demands of the job market so it was me partly identifying opportunities and trends that I felt were a good fit for me that led me to this career path. I have been interested in technology as far back as I can recall but it was my first internship in college, at a startup tech company, that cemented my interest in the field. The intricacies of how the company worked and how they were using technology made me realize it was an area I wanted to be a part of. However, it is a vast field that’s constantly changing and so I have had to adapt to the various trends/ careers within the field, the latest being business analysis.

Is there a philosophy that drives your career?

My passion for technology drives my career. I find it fascinating how it has been able to bridge the gap between developed and developing nations and how it continues to serve communities and people in need of various things, all over the globe.

What do you consider to be your greatest professional accomplishment?

I can’t point to any one specific accomplishment but I have worked on several projects developing software that enhances business processes for the Department of Education and National Institute of Health (NIH), all of which I found rewarding, as they are both organizations that deal with helping people.

What’s one piece of advice you would give someone looking to transition into your line of work?

Both my undergraduate and graduate degrees are in the tech field so I would say that certainly helps but if the person has a different background, certifications based on your specific interest, and networking are good ways to get your foot in the door.

Outside of all of your hard work and efforts toward building your brand, what do you do for fun? Hobbies?

Outside of my interest in staying on top of the latest tech trends, I enjoy catching up on current affairs, exploring the world, and playing tennis.