Reading time: About 3 minutes
Chelsea McMullan
What is your job role?
I am a Product Owner at Automated Intelligence. I act as a liaison between the Engineering and Product teams, as well as our stakeholders. By representing the customer and gathering their requirements, I ensure that the Engineering team is delivering quality software that meets the needs of our customers. I work alongside the Product team to define and prioritise the product backlog, as well as maintain our boards.
How did you start your role in AI and how have you progressed since being here?
I started working for Automated Intelligence back in July 2014 as a placement student. I began my rotation placement with the QA team and ended up spending the full 14 months working in QA. I learned a lot during this time and had great support from the team. Before this placement, I wasn’t sure what area of IT was for me. However, my placement year showed me that QA was the right fit.
Upon my return as a Graduate QA Engineer in July 2016, I continued to hone my skills and advance my career. I transitioned to a QA Engineer role in July 2017 and eventually to the Senior Quality Analyst position in July 2019. Over the last few years, I have taken a keen interest in being more product-focused, furthering my understanding of the customer’s needs, and ensuring that we, as a team, deliver the highest quality valuable software. In January 2022, I started my newest role as Product Owner, marking a significant milestone in my professional career.
Do you think there’s more of a drive for women to work in IT roles today? Why?
Yes, absolutely. There is an increasing demand for IT professionals, which is creating more job opportunities in many different aspects within IT. These diverse opportunities are attracting more women to the field. Additionally, IT is a rapidly growing industry with a high demand for skilled workers. It offers better career opportunities, job security, and higher salaries than many other industries, making it an attractive field for women who want to build a successful career.
IT companies today actively work to increase diversity and inclusivity in their workforce. This includes creating programs and initiatives to attract women to the field, as well as providing great support and opportunities for career advancement.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is a great celebration of all women’s achievements around the world. It actions the need to accelerate gender equality. For women in IT, especially, it is a day to recognize the contributions of female professionals in the industry and to continue working towards creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce.
What is your proudest achievement whilst working at AI?
My most significant accomplishment at Automated Intelligence was being appointed the Product Owner role. As I began to take on more and more of the responsibilities associated with this role with the support from my manager, I was thrilled to be given the role in January 2022.
