Systems Engineer
Olivia Wolf
"Empathy is key in this role. It’s important to understand the business needs of customers, figure out how technology applies to that, and know the audience."
Systems Engineer
Olivia Wolf
"Empathy is key in this role. It’s important to understand the business needs of customers, figure out how technology applies to that, and know the audience."
Systems Engineer
Olivia Wolf
"Empathy is key in this role. It’s important to understand the business needs of customers, figure out how technology applies to that, and know the audience."
About Olivia
Certifications
CCNA
CCNP Enterprise
DevNet Associate
Location
Denver, CO
Hobbies
Skating role model
Rock climbing
Hiking & camping
How it all began
I studied computer engineering in college and wanted to go into software development. But I didn’t want to be writing code all day, stuck in front of a computer. I really liked working with people and making connections and relationships outside of just technology. So, I wanted to explore different jobs, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted, until I received a scholarship to attend the Grace Hopper Conference for Women in Computing in 2019.
It was fate. At this conference and career fair, I spoke with a systems engineer who explained their job role and responsibilities and I decided this was the job for me! It was everything I was looking for.
You can have both a professional and a personal superpower -- in one
My personal superpower is that I love to try new things. And I love to share the things I do with other people. It’s also a professional superpower because I love to talk about what I do with others. And that’s what a systems engineer does. I discuss technology with other people and try to understand my audience so I can communicate about the technology in a way that they’ll understand.
What does having a Cisco Certification mean to you?
“The knowledge that I’ve got from studying for those certifications gave me the confidence that I’ll always be able to get a job if I need to.”
The certifications definitely changed my life. They helped me get a job at a large technology company and helped form my career trajectory. Plus the knowledge that I’ve got from studying for those certifications gave me the confidence that I’ll always be able to get a job if I need to.
“The knowledge that I’ve got from studying for those certifications gave me the confidence that I’ll always be able to get a job if I need to.”
The certifications definitely changed my life. They helped me get a job at a large technology company and helped form my career trajectory. Plus the knowledge that I’ve got from studying for those certifications gave me the confidence that I’ll always be able to get a job if I need to.
What would you tell your younger self?
“I’m still so young! I’d say don’t rush into anything. Maybe taking a little bit of time before going to a university or not accepting the first job offered would have been beneficial to finding something that I’m really passionate about. I found it eventually, with engineering, but looking back, I could have taken more time.”
What would you tell a friend?
“I’d tell then them that it’s a great way to get a jump start on a career. It’s pretty much the first thing you need to get. You’ll get basic foundational knowledge on how networks function, which will basically guarantee you a first role in IT.”
Olivia’s career path
CURRENT ROLE
Systems Engineers combine engineering and management skills to design systems that best address a business problem or goal.
Systems Engineer
PREVIOUS ROLES
Remote IT Support Engineer
Olivia’s career path
CURRENT ROLE
Systems Engineers combine engineering and management skills to design systems that best address a business problem or goal.
Systems Engineer
PREVIOUS ROLES
Remote IT Support Engineer
Olivia’s Cisco certification path
MOST RECENT CERTIFICATION
DevNet Associate
The Cisco Certified DevNet Associate certification opens the door to a career in Network Automation. It covers implementation of basic network applications using Cisco platforms as a base, and automation across network, security, collaboration, and computing infrastructure.
OTHER CISCO CERTIFICATIONS
CCNA
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification is the first step toward a career in IT Networking. The CCNA exam covers networking fundamentals, IP services, security fundamentals, automation and programmability.
CCNP Enterprise
DevNet Specialist
Cisco Certified Specialist - Enterprise Core (CCS-ECore)
Cisco Meraki Solutions Specialist (CMSS)
Read more certification success stories
Kevin Brown
"People always want to know who they're talking to. They want to know if you’re qualified. Certifications give you instant credibility."
CyberOps Analyst
CCNA, CyberOps Associate
AJ Murray
"After getting my CCNA, I turned my attention to taking the CCNP Enterprise. About a month after passing the exam and obtaining the professional-level certification, I was promoted to senior deployment engineer, leading a team of engineers. I was told the CCNP certification wasn’t a requirement for getting the new position, but it helped convince management that I could lead others."
Senior Network Engineer
CCNA, CCDA, CCNP Enterprise
Jenny Guay
"The guidance I gained from earning the certification helped— in near real time—to determine what was happening on the job, when I became an SOC operator."
Network Security Analyst
CyberOps Associate
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