Jamf CIO: ‘I had a strong interest in tech, but didn’t know if it was possible for me’

Linh Lam opens up to CRN about her 20 plus year career in tech so far, and why you don’t have to be a genius to break into the industry

Despite leading $560m-revenue NASDAQ-listed vendor Jamf’s IT operations for more than three years, Linh Lam used to believe a career in tech wasn’t possible for her.

“It wasn't as though I grew up taking coding classes and set out to be in technology,” she admits to CRN.

However, she now boasts a career in IT that spans 20 plus years.

After earning her four year degree at Stanford University, Lam pursued consulting and joined Accenture.

“I didn't know what I was getting myself into.

“We were doing technology and management consulting at a time where the United States was leading Sarbanes Oxley, the skill was going through a ton of back end systems changes to get all these controls in place.

“It was a combination of technology, but then also bridging it with the outcomes that we're trying to drive and the value we were trying to bring to the organisation.”

Lam became “immersed” in this space, thriving on the challenge of developing how technology can come into place to solve a problem, in defiance of not believing this was an option for her.

“I did have a strong interest in tech, but I didn't know if it was something that could be possible for me.

“I was very lucky to be there at the right time to join an organisation that allowed me to be exposed to all this, that gave me a chance to flex muscles I didn't have, and a career was born from that.

“It was very interesting because there weren't a ton of women to emulate or look up to at that time.

“I’m also a pretty petite person. I stand at 5”2, so when I walked into a room, people didn't know I was the one that was running the program, or running that meeting.

“I was lucky to also have some great allies along the way, both male and female. But it was hard.”

20+ years in tech

Lam reveals she didn’t think her calling lay in IT due to “the complex nature of the industry,” convinced it was a career only for computer whizzes.

“At Stanford I was taking computer science classes, and I had taken some programming in high school, but that's when I was introduced.

“But there were students there that had been doing their own programming since they were eight or nine years old. When I was that age I barely had my IBM 286, and I was learning how to play Oregon Trail.

“So I just thought you had to be that type of genius to work in tech.”

Lam acknowledged there are certain roles that do require a more technical mind but highlights the functions that are “absolutely necessary and important” for technology to work with purpose, and for tech companies to be successful.

“There are a ton of roles in between that are still in tech, that are more technical business analysis etc.

“You don’t need to be a super hardcore coder, but you need to have the right skill set to be able to bridge the technology with the purpose.”

The attraction to tech

While she wasn’t gifted with abilities to navigate the complicated cyber world as a child, Lam has bloomed in the tech space and continues to enjoy the market after more than 20 years.

“Tech is always changing. Every industry is getting disrupted by tech.

“I started off in telecommunications. Then I went on to consult for a couple of cybersecurity companies. Then I was in healthcare for a while helping nurses with automated transcription.

“And then I went into FinTech for a while, and now I'm back in tech and cybersecurity.

“There was always something new. There was always something else that piqued my interest, or was able to scratch that curious itch that I had.

“I still ask myself what I want to be when I grow up. I'm having fun, I'm having a good time with this. I'm still learning.”

Stay focused, be open

Lam highlights three points that have led her to the c-level success she enjoys today.

“One is staying focused on understanding what are the objectives of not just my team, but also the organisation, the industry, and then figuring out whatever role I'm in, what value am I bringing to be able to help drive that?

“Another thing is also figuring out how to build strong and effective teams.

“I have some lessons learned on that too, that I learned hard, early and fast. I have a very distinct way of working. I'm very much a person that makes lists and I leave no stone unturned.”

She continues that when she became a manager Lam surrounded herself with people like her.

However, she quickly learned that not everyone works the same way. And when your team is full of people with the same mindset, you also have the same blind spots.

“So I learned to form teams with complementary skill sets and perspectives so that we can work together.

“I think the other piece is being very open to things that may come my way. Women tend to take on more and say yes to everything.

“I'm not saying that you necessarily need to do that. I do worry about the lack of women as you move up, and that’s likely because of burnout.

“I believe that, as you're thinking about your purview, don't have tunnel vision and think something isn’t in your lane.

“Look at what comes before what you do, what comes after what you do, and can you influence any of that? Or perhaps, would you be open to taking on more of that under your responsibility?”

Giving tech a shot

Lam urges young women who are interested in tech to simply “give it a shot.”

“The worst that can happen is you don’t end up in tech. Well, that's where you are right now.”

Students from her alma mater of Stanford reach out to Lam for advice on how to break into the industry, something she encourages more people to do.

“I definitely advise people to leverage their network. It doesn’t hurt to reach out.

“But also try to learn more about the industry. Information is so easy to obtain now. Use AI, listen to podcasts.

“Tech is not just the person that's building the tech. There's so much more to it, so learn about the different roles that facilitate what it means to build a good product.”

Lam adds she feels girls are inherently less likely to ask the question or even express curiosity because they don’t know enough.

“Well, how will you know enough about it, unless you actually extend yourself to learn?

“Something I'm trying to do is influence and change that environment for girls before they become young women, so that they can see that they don't need to be that way, that they can see these opportunities can be open to them.”