spotlight | Athziry
Athziry Sierra
Jr. Technical Consultant
This month's recommendations from Athziry are:
TV Series
Unsolved Mysteries
TV Series 2020 -
Music
In this edition of our Spotlight, we introduce Athziry Sierra. Since joining the company back in June 2022, Athziry started as an intern and has progressed into a Junior Technical Consultant position. She has been a great addition to the team and is already making a name for herself within in the Mayan Technologies team.
Athziry is an ambitious young woman who strives for excellence in her work. In her time at Mayan, she has learned how to be an effective communicator, as well as understand complex requirements and issues while still being able to explain them in a way our clients can easily understand.
She has worked on various projects for our customers, helping solve some of their most challenging problems by providing software solutions that meet their needs. We look forward to seeing what more she accomplishes in the future, and we're so grateful for her hard work and dedication.
Professional
With a bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from Universidad Tec Milenio, Athziry is ready to take on the world. Her experience includes multiple certifications, including web design and mobile app development. She has been involved in technology-related activities since she was an undergraduate student and has gained substantial experience in the field.
Athziry is passionate about learning new technologies and is always open to new opportunities. She has always been interested in computer science and technology. Being part of the MayanTechs team has allowed her to use her skills in different ways while also learning more about the custom solutions field.
What do you do at Mayan Technologies?
I'm part of the Enterprise Solutions team. My responsibility is to support workflows and ensure that corporate activities comply with industry standards. This means that sometimes I am busy debugging problems, while at other times, I work closely with clients and CAMs.
As a Jr. Tech Consultant at Mayan Technologies, I have had the opportunity to work on challenging and fulfilling projects. In my position, it's essential to stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices so I can provide valuable information when working with customers and colleagues across different areas of our organization.
How would you say you have grown professionally while working at Mayan Technologies?
Before I joined the organization, I thought I was not cut out to work in a team. However, my mindset changed dramatically after learning to work with others. Now, I feel more confident and can easily discuss any topic. My coworkers are very supportive. They are always willing to lend a hand. The work environment is amicable, making it easy to collaborate with others on projects requiring teamwork.
One of the best things about working at Mayan is that every day is a different challenge. You can get comfortable in your routine, but when you're constantly being thrown new challenges, it forces you to get out of your comfort zone and be better than you thought possible. It's a great way to keep yourself on your toes and make the most of your skills because you never know what tomorrow will bring.
How do you feel about collaborating directly with clients, do you find it to be a challenge? Does it come naturally to you or is this an area you have had to learn and develop?
One thing I've learned from working with clients is that you need to be prepared. It's not something that you can figure out on the fly. You must know what you'll say, how you'll ask questions, and what information you'll need.
When I started collaborating with clients, I needed to figure out what I was doing! I had yet to learn what questions would be asked and what information they'd expect me to provide. Fortunately, the Mayan Techs team always has our back. They provide us with everything we need so we can focus on the client's needs instead of worrying about making sure we have all their information together before the meetings start. As time passed, I started feeling more confident about this matter, noticing that my tone changed when speaking with customers, and my voice became more natural and less forced.
Is Mayan your first job? If so, what interested you to apply for a position here and join the team?
When I was looking for my first job, my main goal was to find a company with exemplary work ethic. I wanted to be able to see how the company treated its team members and how they interacted with each other. I was immediately intrigued by Mayan's work ethic. The company does not see its employees as a product but rather as part of a family—a rare thing in today's corporate world. I was also impressed by the learning opportunities available at Mayan; although I had never heard about an ERP system before, I've learned so much about while working here.
What do you think is your biggest asset as a professional?
When it comes to my work, I'm a stickler for organization. I believe that the ability to develop your own processes is one of the essential skills for any professional career. Back in the day when I used to be a college student, I approached my projects and certificate programs as a "Project Manager." Taking notes at the start of each class, researching the topics being covered, organizing the information into categories, and making lists of tasks that need to be completed. Being organized helps me be more effective by allowing me to prioritize tasks and make sure that everything is getting done on time. It takes practice, but if you put in the effort every day, it will soon become second nature.
What has surprised you most about working in this industry?
What surprises me the most about working at Mayan Technologies is their level of use for any tool and resource to provide solutions to their clients. I've never seen a team so committed to going above and beyond, even when it means investing in new technologies or learning new skills.
Another thing that surprised me is how much they focus on teaching their employees new skills and tools. They're constantly pushing people to learn something new and then getting them involved in projects that need those skills. This helps everyone stay motivated because they feel like they're continually growing as individuals and as part of a team.
One of the main keys about working in consulting is communication and customer management, do you have any suggestions to better handle this?
As a professional, you must be prepared to answer any question that comes your way. If you are unsure about something, asking for more information or clarification, if necessary, is best. Even if it is the smallest detail, you never know if doubts will arise in a conversation with clients. If there's something you don't know or don't understand, do not be afraid to ask. Also, it's essential to estimate your times as accurately as possible so that you can plan out your workflow efficiently. You must keep track of all your time, ensuring that deadlines are met, and that important tasks are being completed.
Where do you see yourself as a professional in the next 5 years?
I see myself growing as a person and as a professional. The best way to grow professionally is to learn and update your skills constantly. The more you know and study, the more you will be able to help your clients.
Taking on challenges is also essential because you'll learn more from mistakes than successes—so always take on challenges and navigate different areas. The most important thing to keep in mind is that technology is constantly changing. You must always stay on top of new developments and advances in your field, or else you'll fall behind. This means that even if you want to do the same thing for years, you still must keep learning new things daily.
What type of projects would you like to work on or enjoy most?
I don't have a specific type; I am always up for a challenge. I enjoy working on projects that require research on a topic that may be unknown to me or unfamiliar. It helps me grow and develop my skills, making learning more enjoyable.
I also like to work on projects with multiple tasks involved or where I must perform different roles. In such cases, I can apply my knowledge of various fields and skills, which is an excellent way to expand my abilities and experience base.
Preferences + Stats
Bachelor's Degree -
Computer Engineering
Supported ERP -
Epicor
Acumatica
Specialized in -
Reporting
1+
Years Experience
Personal
Athziry's personal life is fascinating, she loves movies and is an avid outdoors person who loves spending time with the ones closest to her. To learn more, we began our interview by inquiring about her family and personal interests.
What can you tell us about your family?
My family consists of four people: my dad, my mom, my younger sister, and myself. We all love dogs—so we have an Alaskan Malamute named Katasha. She's a gorgeous and friendly dog that everyone can't help but love.
My dad invented the name "Katasha" from the combination of my mother's name (Katy), my sister's name (Ashanty), and mine (Athziry). It was chosen because it's unlike any other dog name out there. My dad loves coming up with new names—it's kind of his thing. We were so excited about this new name because it was so unique. Every person who hears it has no idea how someone could come up with such an unusual name, but that's how my dad rolls.
What moves/motivates you and pushes you to pursue your goals every day?
I'm motivated by a desire to learn new things, not to stay stagnant. I love applying the skills I've learned and using them in new situations. It's inspiring to know that everything I'm doing now will help me grow as a person in the future and my career.
Also, I get a lot of motivation from my family. It's very important to me that they see how much I've improved as a person, professionally and morally.
What do you enjoy doing most during your free time?
I love spending time with my sister. We both have busy schedules, so we rarely see each other. She studies at night, and I work during the day. But when we do get together, we like to go out to the mall or visit some local event. My sister and I are very close. We share many interests and hobbies, but our favorite thing is enjoying our time together doing fun things.
On weekends, we spend hours watching new tv series or movies on streaming platforms. We love it so much! I also like to read, paint and draw, which makes me feel more focused and happier. I believe it's essential to engage in activities for personal fulfillment.
Share with us something you are particularly proud of?
I am proud of the fact that I was able to graduate from college despite the challenges I faced during my time there. I know many people who dropped out of school because they didn't feel like they could handle it or due to the pandemic, but I always tried to be optimistic and look at the bright side of things.
Even when things were at their worst, I never gave up on myself or my education. I'm also proud that I am a resilient person who can take on challenges and find solutions no matter how discouraged I may get. It's easy to feel defeated by life's circumstances, but I have always tried to stay strong and focused on the positive things in my life: my friends and family, my education, my future career goals—and most importantly, myself.
What do you feel has had the biggest impact on your life?
I have always known that after graduating from college, I would be ready to work the next day. Realizing that moment will change everything for you. It's a milestone in your life that signals a meaningful change: another season begins in your life—the "student" phase has ended, and from that point on, it's up to you how far you go in life—your future depends on your own efforts and choices. Working at Mayan Technologies has been a unique opportunity I will always be grateful for. It has been a challenging journey, but it has also been an impactful and fantastic learning experience.
Do you have a particular goal you are currently pursuing? Or plan to pursue in the near future?
I am currently not pursuing a long-term goal. Still, I am constantly learning as much as possible about programming and software development—new languages and frameworks are constantly being created, and I am always looking for opportunities to expand my knowledge. But for now, my focus is on becoming an expert in the ones I already know, JAVA, SWIFT, and C++.
This doesn't mean that I'm not interested in new things. For example, I would like to relocate for a while to live in Europe or Canada so that I can learn more about the culture and make new friends. However, my focus is improving my skills through practice and education.
What’s something you’ve always wanted to try or do?
I'm going with something more metaphorical. In the Divergent movie, there's a scene where people throw themselves off a building and land on a mattress. It's like a leap of faith—I think that would be much fun, and it would be a great way to test my limits and see how I would respond to the situation. I know it's not the same as doing something physical like skydiving or bungee jumping, but I think it could have the same effect on me. I'm not sure why. It's not as if I have some deep-seated fear of heights or anything, but I think it's just the idea of not knowing what's going to happen next, but you must trust that it will all work out in the end.
What book or movie has had an impact on how you think?
I have always been a fan of stories that show how women empower themselves, and the movie Hidden Figures is one such story. I was especially moved by the fact that these women were not only working in a male-dominated industry but also doing so at a time when segregation was still legal in many states. This movie shows that women can be just as capable as men of solving complex problems. It also shows that even though times were different back then—when women were not allowed to work outside their homes or vote—these women still managed to achieve great things for themselves and society. I love watching these kinds of movies because you see a different perspective on life and learn about real people who have made history and are still making history today.
Act with caution,
but not in fear.
Tips from Our Experts
We have the privilege of working with very talented experts, each in their area. Why not share some of that knowledge. Here are Athziry's best practices when it comes to keeping track of your to do list as you work on multiple projects.
Dreams don't always follow the same path – The most important thing is to keep learning and growing. The best way to do this is by staying open-minded, even if it means taking a job that may seem like something other than your dream job right now. You'll always be able to learn something from that experience, allowing you to grow as a person and professional.
Act with caution, but not in fear – What if they think I'm not enough? What if they don't like me? What if I don't get the job? You've heard these questions before—and you probably have your variation of them. But here's the thing: you must take risks. If you're not willing to risk being rejected, you'll never reach your goal of getting a job. So instead of letting your fear hold you back from sending that email or applying for the job, learn ways to make your resume stand out.
Be the example, not the exception – The job market is tough and putting all your eggs in one basket can be tempting. But it's important to remember that you're looking for a long-term career, not a short-term job. When finding the right place for you, remember that you can be someone other than the 'perfect' candidate. To get hired, you must be the most qualified candidate who contributes new ideas and is an example for others.
Did You Know?
Here are three things you probably didn't know about Athziry Sierra:
Athziry loves jazz and listening to pop-jazz mixed tunes.
She prefers cold weather, rather than warm.
Has a particular interest in minerals & the ambiguous sense of spiritualism.
Thank you for reading this month's Spotlight article, where featured team members provide insight into their job at Mayan Technologies and detail what their role encompasses while opening up about their personal life.
Stay tuned for our next Spotlight article about:
ANDRES VELAZCO
Sr. Technical Consultant