In this episode of the CNL Podcast, host Sedric speaks with Melina Taylor, Director of IT at Hope Lab, about her unconventional journey from psychology to IT leadership. Inspired by early gaming on the SNES and N64, Melina discovered her passion for technology in college and turned it into a career.
She reflects on challenges, including burnout while running her own IT consulting firm, and how that shaped her approach to balance and resilience. At Hope Lab, she operates as a one-person IT team, managing outsourced partners, leading strategy, and educating users beyond quick fixes.
Melina emphasizes the value of communication, networking, and asking for help as essential IT skills, alongside a strong grounding in cybersecurity. Looking ahead, she warns of the disruptive threat quantum computing poses to encryption, while balancing her career with community engagement and her side business, TLDD Wines.
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