Team Member Spotlight: Brittanie

First up is Brittanie R. a Solutions Architect in our Presales organization. Brittanie has been with us since her internship, but her connection with Dell Technologies actually started even before that. We sat down with Brittanie to learn about her career path, her current role, and her future aspirations.

How did you first connect with Dell Technologies?

My first connection with Dell Technologies all started with a class that was offered at Morehouse College through the Changing the Face of Tech initiative. To be honest, I took the class because it satisfied a computer science elective, was held only once a week, and food was provided! Prior to the class, I had no idea what a Sales Engineer was; however, through that class, I was able to secure an internship that ultimately led into my current full-time role.

Tell me about your career path.

During college, I first interned at Under Armour on the Global Retail IT Team in Baltimore, MD. The next summer, I did a Sales Engineer internship with Dell Technologies remotely. After graduating from Spelman College in December 2020, I began my full-time career remotely with Dell Technologies in February 2021 with the Next Gen Presales Academy. After spending about 4 months in the Academy, I am now a Solutions Architect supporting Southeast Medium Businesses. My goal is to be able to coordinate programs, like the one I am a product of, to help expose and advance underrepresented people to great opportunities.

What were some things you accomplished during your internship?

During my internship in the Summer of 2020, prior to starting full-time with Dell, I worked on Diversity and Inclusion profiles for some of our customers. I researched what they were doing to diversify and strengthen their employee base, how Dell could help, or even what customer initiatives Dell could also benefit from. During that time, the aftermath of the Ahmaud Arbery murder was in full force, and I saw an opportunity to educate my fellow interns that did not identify as Black. I spearheaded a Disrupt Racism workshop that gave tips on how to actively be anti-racist, how to include others, and how to educate others. I was requested to also present to full-time and leadership teams within Presales. Those that I presented to encouraged and pushed me to also lead anti-bias workshops. I also worked on a project with my fellow interns to create more intuitive tools for hiring managers searching for experienced talent.

How did your internship prepare you for a full-time role with Dell Technologies?

My internship served as a great preview before starting full time with Dell. I was able to get a feel for the culture, gain mentors, and expand my network. All of these things greatly eased my college to career transition. I have people that I met and worked with during the internship that I still talk to on a regular basis. Because of those lasting relationships, I have been exposed to more opportunities than I could imagine.

What advice would you give to young BIPOC women considering a career in tech?

To young BIPOC women considering a career in tech, I say: Be confident in your expertise and know that you belong. Many times, we can feel like an outcast because there are not many of us in the industry, and those that are can feel like they’re constantly under a microscope; but that is because we are underestimated, not unequipped.

For more information about opportunities for current students in the United States and Canada, visit our North America student careers page.