HerStories
Joanna Lescai
Joanna Lescai first started as a Java developer and has evolved to become a translator between business and technical teams, and an expert in problem solving. Jo leads CyberCX’s Women in Cyber network to support diversity in our field.
South Australia
My Tech Path
My career started after I graduated from my Master’s degree of Information Technology. I started as a Java developer, which provided an opportunity for me to discover my passion, which is interacting with people and communication supported by technology.
I then progressed my career journey to test and business analyst roles which built on my technical knowledge and allowed me to be the translator between technical and business teams. This experience enhanced my communication skills across multiple teams with different technical understanding.
Business analysis also allowed me to develop my problem-solving skills. Often, solutions to problems are not technical at all, but involve people, communication or processes. Technical solutions can augment and support these processes.
After years of working in project centric environments, I’ve advanced my career to project and program management roles. I continue to build on my previous experience to lead my program team to navigate through complex problems. I also provide advice to senior executives and board which allows me to think strategically and with different business context.
The best advice I’ve received
My mentor gave me this life advice – life is like juggling balls all the time. The trick is knowing which ball is a plastic ball, and which is a glass ball. Sometimes, you have to drop a ball or two. Just don’t drop the glass ball.
What would you tell your 15 year old self?
I would like to tell my 15 year-old self that it is ok to not know everything, to try things, and it is ok if it doesn’t work out. You will always take away something, and believe in yourself. The world is your oyster.
