I recently completed my first year working in tech as a Data Engineer — and just wrapped up my time at a company that challenged me, changed me, and taught me more than I could have imagined. It was my first big-girl job, and while I’ve since moved on, I’m taking with me a toolkit of lessons, stories, and mindset shifts that I’ll carry throughout my career.

Here’s what I learned in my first year, thanks to mentors-turned-managers and the school of hard (but rewarding) experiences.

1. The Path from 0% to 70% Is Easy — It’s the 70% to 100% That’s Hard

One of the most powerful things my manager told me was this:

“The real challenge isn’t starting — it’s mastering.”

In the early stages, growth is exponential. You’re learning fast, making visible progress, and picking up new skills daily. But once you reach about 70%, things slow down. That’s where true mastery begins — and that part is hard.

Mastery requires focus, intention, and care. It's no longer about learning the basics — it's about refining them. It means eliminating careless mistakes, paying attention to nuance, and pouring 200% of your heart into precision and depth.

This lesson shifted the way I approached learning: slow down, go deep, and don’t rush the craft.

2. Adopt a Servant Mindset

I came across this idea while reading Unapologetically Ambitious by Shellye Archambeau, and it completely changed the way I view work and leadership.

A servant mindset is about showing up to make others’ lives easier — to help your team succeed, not just yourself. It’s not glamorous, but it’s what makes someone truly indispensable.

Level 1: Do what you're supposed to do, even when it's inconvenient.
Level 2: Do more than you're supposed to do, even when it's inconvenient.

Practical ways I applied this:

Show up 15 minutes early to meetings to set up the projector, computer, and AV systems.
Volunteer to write the agenda and meeting minutes.
Offer to document workflows and improve existing reports.
If another team is overwhelmed, step in and help.

It's not about overworking — it’s about creating value. The more you give, the more trust you build.

3. Be Intentional. Be Proactive.

If I could go back in time, I’d do one thing differently: plan more intentionally.

I used to think that if I kept my head down and worked hard, recognition would follow. But I learned that hard work without visibility and structure isn’t always enough.

Eventually, I started documenting everything I worked on — identifying gaps, suggesting improvements, and highlighting potential blockers. That single habit changed the game for me.

I would proactively connect with people across different departments to understand their needs and find ways to integrate my work into their solutions. This way, I could genuinely say I’ve collaborated cross-functionally with diverse stakeholders.

In my next role, I’ll follow the 30-60-90 day plan: setting clear, measurable goals for my first three months. I’ll plan my learning, my leave, my upskilling courses — everything. Because a career doesn’t just happen. You build it, block by block.

4. Ask Questions. Step Outside Your Comfort Zone.

This job pushed me beyond the office — quite literally. I worked on the ground, surrounded by wildlife, ships, and kayaks. I even learned how to fix a kayak and understand its anatomy. Why? Because I asked questions. Lots of them.

Curiosity opened doors. People were willing to share their knowledge — years of it — just because I was willing to ask and listen.

I also discovered creativity in unexpected places. While working as a Data Engineer automating ETL pipelines, I took the initiative to explore how the data was analyzed. I saw room for improvement — so I made slides and documents suggesting new tools and technologies. That’s how I stumbled into the world of geospatial analysis.

Inspiration is everywhere. But sometimes, you have to create the opportunity — it’s not always handed to you.

Looking Ahead

I don’t know what’s next, but I do know that I’m walking forward with these lessons etched into me. They’ve shaped the way I think, work, and grow.

And to my incredible mentors — Edwin, Ronny, Alex, Raymond, and Kama — thank you. Being the only woman on an all-male data team could have been intimidating. But with your guidance, it became empowering.

To anyone reading this who’s just starting their journey in tech: you’ve got this. And if no one’s told you yet — you don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be willing.

Here’s to learning, growing, and always asking one more question…

Mastery, Mindset, and Mistakes: What One Year in Tech Taught Me