When Erin Bournival makes a call, she's never sure who she'll reach. But her goal is always the same: to connect with another ham who's far from her home in Boston, Massachusetts. So far, she's reached people as far away as Perth, Australia, and as remote as Antarctica, and she's still trying to reach Japan.
“It’s a challenge to make contacts further and further away,” says Erin. “It’s a personal goal for many hams because it depends on a lot of persistence, physics and a bit of luck.”
Erin is no stranger to persistence. She is now a distinguished engineer in the Office of the Corporate CTO, where she works with international teams to develop new standards. Her successful career is a testament to following her curiosity and passion, pushing herself to try new things, even when they are outside her comfort zone.
First steps
Erin had an early introduction to computers and engineering concepts. Her father how to get usa whatsapp number was a master electrician, and from a young age she would help him with electrical projects. “I have a good background in electronics and electricity,” she says. “I still enjoy getting out the soldering iron and putting together a board when I have time.”
It was a happy coincidence that her neighbor in New Hampshire was a computer salesman. He worked for Apple and owned one of their early personal computers. He let Erin use it from time to time, and by the time she was 11, she had saved up all her money to buy a computer of her own.
Looking back, Erin isn’t entirely sure what drew her to computers. As an introverted child, she liked to think and express herself in ways that the computer could understand. The use of computers in general was still emerging at the time. “Learning to write code was one of the first things I did with my computer, and I really enjoyed it,” she says.
Her self-taught skills led her to her first engineering job in the prepress industry. She helped build some of the first commercial systems that connected page layout software running on Macintosh computers to newspaper and magazine printing machines, obviating the need to manually assemble pages. “In our spare time, we enjoyed creating huge, gorgeous, high-resolution posters,” Erin says. “Prepress was a great entry point into the technology field.”
Sending signals
Erin entered the emerging field of engineering before finishing college. “Taking on your chosen career path, with or without a degree, takes boldness and guts. You don’t have to be afraid to show people that you have the qualities they’re looking for,” says Erin.
““Taking on your chosen career, whether you have a degree or not, requires courage and grit. You don’t have to be afraid to show people that you have the qualities they are looking for,” says Erin.
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While Erin’s diligence and tenacity paid off, she still advocates for the importance of creating a collaborative network. For Erin, that means connecting with people who can help you and finding ways to help others. “Think about the world we live in. Everyone faces some kind of challenge, and you will always find opportunities to help others. If I could give a wake-up call to the next generation, it would be to be there for each other, no matter your sex, gender, background or color,” she says.
As her career began to take off, she leaned on a close-knit group of engineers, mostly men. It turns out they were all hockey players, and their first policy was brutal honesty. The group, which followed each other through three or four software companies, offered Erin blunt personal and professional feedback, and helped her grow significantly. She acclimated to their candor and appreciated it. “We all have each other’s backs,” she says. “I’m lucky to be part of that group.”
Erin landed at Dell Technologies in 2003. While software engineering and its many evolutions continued to capture her attention, she began to thrive when she was given the opportunity to lead. Although she hadn’t initially envisioned herself in leadership roles, followers at the company saw her potential. “It can be difficult to define your own path when there are so many options out there. I’ve benefited from leveraging my network of contacts to gain critical insights and open my eyes to new possibilities.”
Erin adds, “Certain experiences in my life have taught me to be conscious of every decision I make. However, I believe it’s never too late to pursue what makes you happy. It starts with being truly aware of who you are, understanding what makes you tick, and then doggedly pursuing a role or identity that fills you with pride and a sense of accomplishment.”
“I have found that there are more and better opportunities for you when you find people who care about your success and actively support you as you work toward it. They are out there, you just have to look for them.”
““I have found that there are more and better opportunities for you when you find people who care about your success and actively support you as you work toward it. They are out there, you just have to look for them.”
How Erin Bournival became a top engineer
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