Ep 17. Nicole Meaker on studying Engineering in adulthood, figuring out what you actually find interesting and working at Marqo as a Product Manager

Calling Operator with Laura Nicol

Listen to this interview with Nicole Meaker and dive into...

Unexpected Paths Lead to Rewarding Careers: Nicole's journey into tech was unplanned. Despite an initial lack of interest in math and science, her diverse experiences, including working in bars and a call centre, led her to discover a passion for technology. A reminder to never forget the importance of exploring and being open to unexpected career paths.

Continuous Learning and Adaptability: Nicole emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, as seen in her decision to study engineering in her twenties and her varied roles in IT. Listen to hear about how adaptability helps growth in an ever-evolving tech industry.

Challenges for Women in Tech: Nicole's experience reflects the challenges women face in tech, including being often the only woman in a team and encountering gender-based barriers and harassment. Her journey underscores the need for and is part of the solution for greater diversity and inclusion in the tech sector.

Balancing Parenting and Career in Tech: While admitting she is very tired, we explore concepts of flexibility and Nicole shares how she believes she's become a better operator, and parent thanks to her career.

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A note from your host, Laura:

My goal for Calling Operator 2.0 is to open-source stories with startup operators across various functional areas and learn how they excel at building and scaling companies. As a Chief of Staff, I often find myself in (virtual) rooms with people tackling similar challenges. I want this podcast to open a line for operators in Australia and New Zealand to learn from each other—diving into the execution behind big ideas, pivotal career moments, successes, failures, lessons and personal stories.