Member Feature: Jennifer Larios on Growth, Learning and Support in Technology

Jennifer Larios’ career in technology has evolved from hands-on technical work into a Team/Technical Lead role. Her journey offers a grounded perspective on professional development: growth is not always linear, and progress is rarely achieved alone.

For Larios, building a career has involved more than developing technical knowledge. It has meant staying open to change, continuing to learn, building confidence over time and paying attention to the lessons offered by the people around her. Those elements have helped shape her transition from technical delivery into a role that also includes leadership.

A career built through learning

Technology changes quickly, and Larios sees continuous learning as an important part of responding to that reality. Learning can include deepening technical skills, but it can also mean developing new ways of communicating, collaborating and approaching unfamiliar challenges.

Her progression from hands-on work to a leadership role reflects the value of remaining curious throughout a career. Rather than viewing a role change as a departure from technical experience, her story suggests that technical foundations can continue to inform how a leader understands work, supports others and helps a team move forward.

Continuous learning also requires humility. No one can be expected to know everything in a field as broad and fast-moving as technology. Being willing to ask questions, seek guidance and learn from peers can be as important as individual expertise. That willingness can create room for both professional growth and stronger working relationships.

Confidence develops over time

Larios highlights confidence as another important part of career development. Confidence does not necessarily arrive all at once, nor does it mean having every answer. It can grow through experience, preparation, resilience and the willingness to take on new responsibilities.

For women in technology, career development may include navigating uncertainty, adapting to changing opportunities and finding a leadership style that feels authentic. Larios’ perspective is realistic: careers do not always follow a straight path. A change in role, a difficult project or an unfamiliar responsibility can become an opportunity to learn and develop new capabilities.

Hard work matters, but it is only one part of the picture. Growth can also depend on timing, access to opportunity, supportive workplaces and people who offer encouragement or constructive challenge. Recognizing those influences does not diminish individual effort. Instead, it acknowledges the fuller set of conditions that can help someone progress.

The importance of a support network

A strong support network has been especially meaningful in Larios’ journey. She identifies her family, particularly her husband and daughter, as important sources of encouragement and motivation. Their support has helped sustain her as she has continued to build her career and take on new challenges.

Professional support has also made a difference. Larios has benefited from employers who supported her growth, mentors who shared experience and guidance, and colleagues who encouraged her and helped her learn. These relationships illustrate that professional advancement is often collaborative. People who believe in someone’s potential can help create the confidence and opportunity needed to move into a new stage of work.

Mentorship and collegial support do not need to follow one fixed model. A mentor may offer perspective based on experience. A colleague may explain a new process, share feedback or provide encouragement during a difficult assignment. A manager or employer may create space for development by trusting someone with a new responsibility. Together, these interactions can have a lasting impact.

Leadership as an ongoing practice

Moving into a Team/Technical Lead role has expanded Larios’ professional perspective. Leadership in technology is not only about technical decisions. It can also involve helping people learn, communicating clearly, adapting to change and supporting a team through complex work.

Her story underlines the connection between learning and leadership. The habits that help someone grow early in a career—curiosity, resilience, openness to feedback and respect for others’ knowledge—remain valuable as responsibilities increase. Leadership can be an opportunity to extend the same encouragement that once made a difference personally.

Larios’ experience is a reminder that there is no single formula for a successful technology career. Progress may come through skill-building, persistence, changing direction when needed and accepting support along the way. For those considering their own next step, her message is clear: keep learning, remain open to growth and recognize the people who help make that growth possible.