Zanisha Jones has always had an interest in technology and how computers work. Part of the thanks, she says, goes to her mom, who enrolled her in computer camps as a child. Today, as a Quality Assurance Manager at Citrix, she works with her team to ensure our applications deliver supreme quality, “with all the bells and whistles.” Citrix gives her the freedom and space to grow and develop at her own pace and encourages teams to innovate without boundaries. This blog post is the third in our Women @ Work series spotlighting women at Citrix. You can also meet Xue Wang here and Sam Foster.

What do you like about working in technology?
One of the beautiful things about technology is that it is always evolving and there are always new opportunities out there. These opportunities require change and growth, and learning to embrace that will carry you a long way in the technology industry. On my QA team, we had to embrace moving from testing manually to learning and developing new skills to support a wide variety of projects. We embraced this change, and now we can accomplish tasks that used to take us days or weeks in minutes or hours using automation. We had to stretch outside our comfort zone while exercising our critical thinking skills. It had its challenges, but, for our team, it was such an amazing transformation that will stay with us for a long time.

What advice would you give to women who are building careers in technology?
Choose a personal motto, one that is unique to your journey, and never stop reaching for your goals. My personal motto is “nothing is impossible,” and I choose to believe that statement. Growing up in Jamaica, we were encouraged as students to try different forms of art, science, or sports to explore the unknown. I knew my passion for science would help me to be successful, not only in Jamaica but wherever I chose to be. I’m truly proud to be at a global company where I’m part of a team that ensures our applications get delivered with excellent quality.

How can people in a role like yours help build others?
Once you have an opportunity or are positioned to help someone build up themselves or to provide counsel or encouragement, regardless of your role, it’s something you should capitalize on. When you have that chance to help build others, it truly is important to listen and understand before sharing your thoughts. I’m grateful to have had leaders on my team that demonstrated these qualities. Speaking and listening to them felt easy because of how much they were invested in our teams. They encouraged us to appreciate growth and everything that comes with it — the challenges, the failures, the successes. Embracing growth and change will help you do better in your career and just be a better person.

What’s the best career advice you’ve received and how have you put it into practice?
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received is to never stop learning, to continuously find opportunities to improve your craft. This has become a part of my team’s culture — to make sure we are implementing the best solution possible — even if it takes some extra hours to understand and develop the skills that are needed. That approach helps to shape the team’s culture and encourages growth among everyone.

How can women help to shape a more empowering culture?
Choose the path and direction you take in technology. Don’t let the room dictate where you go or deter you on your journey. Always strive to be the best version of yourself, demonstrate what you can bring to the table, and understand the impact your talents can have on your journey, your organization, and your peers. Do that, and you’ll be able to help shape your organization’s culture and empower others.