Our Lead(H)er series features impressive women leaders in the tech industry. In this Q&A, we are featuring Marisa Cunniffe, Director Software Engineering at Vestmark.
Where did you grow up and how would you describe yourself as a child?
I grew up in Boston, MA. As a child, I was curious by nature. I loved to read and understand how things worked. In elementary school, math was always my favorite subject. In high school, I had the opportunity to take Computer Science classes and quickly realized that solving problems using code was something I enjoyed and excelled at.
What did you study in college and what was your first job out of school?
In college, I decided to stick with coding and graduated with a degree in Computer Science. I attended a college that required co-ops. I was lucky enough to get a co-op opportunity in FinTech that turned into a full-time job once I graduated.
Can you share the details on your career path and what were the critical moments that got you to where you are today?
I have worked in FinTech since college. I started my career as a Software Developer. After about 10 years of coding, I decided I wanted to take on more responsibility and began my journey into management. I had always been drawn to making sure that the product we delivered to clients met their expectations. As a manager, I was able to interact with more teams outside of Engineering and understand better the successes and challenges that the software brought them and our clients. As the years went by, my focus started to move towards delivering Quality software and that led to more leadership opportunities with Release and Quality Engineering focused teams.
What is your current role and responsibilities?
Today I lead Quality Engineering for Vestmark which encompasses supporting, testing, and releasing quality software products to our clients.
For people who are looking to be in a similar position, what advice would you give to others in terms of helping them achieve their career goals?
I think the most important advice I would give is to trust your team and delegate. When moving into leadership roles, you must admit to yourself that you can’t do everything yourself. You need to have a solid team that you trust and delegate to them.
What are the most important skills that you need to do your job well?
The most important skills I have found are patience and empathy. The willingness to listen to others and see things from other points of view are important skills for anyone in leadership.
What do you find most interesting/rewarding about your work? What’s the most challenging?
I’ve always felt rewarded when our customers are happy with the software we provide to them. The challenges can come from the same scenario when the customer is not happy, either because we introduced defects or other challenges they experience.
Are you involved with any professional organizations outside of the company? Volunteer work?
I am currently enrolled in the Executive IQ program at The Money Management Institute. This is a great opportunity that is helping to increase my self-awareness and strengthen my leadership skills.
Q&A
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
In my free time, I like to spend time with my husband and kids. Chauffeuring my kids to where they need to go, cheering them on at their games, and helping them with school is what takes up most of my free time. Outside of this I enjoy traveling when I can, going to concerts and watching sports.
How do you manage stress?
When I’m feeling stressed, I like to take a long walk. Either outside or when the weather isn’t cooperating, I’ll go to the gym. This will usually clear my mind and allow me to re-focus.
