Mary Savage Dixon
Ben E. Keith Company
Arlington, TX USA
"It’s all about the hustle. If you’re constantly out-hustling and outworking everyone around you, then opportunities come to you."
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Mary's work combines: Technology, Engineering, and Problem Solving
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
My company needed to fill a systems engineer role. I volunteered even though I didn't have experience because I was willing to work hard and learn. They let me to give it a shot but wouldn't technically give me the title change. A year later, I was still doing the job. I went back and asked them to resolve this by giving me the promotion. They willingly did. One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that what you know isn't as important as long as you're willing to try, learn, and work hard.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I went to Texas Tech University after high school with the ultimate dream of earning my degree in restaurant and hotel management, moving to an island, and feeling like I’m on a permanent vacation.
2.
Three years into college, I found out my mom had cancer, so I left school to take care of her.
3.
I set down roots, started a family, and didn’t end up going back to college—however, going back and completing my degree was always in the back of my mind.
4.
During this time, I got a job at an apartment management company and worked there for 20 years.
5.
The property I worked for was sold and they didn’t have a place for me besides the IT department—I didn’t have any IT experience but I had a knack for it, so I gave it a try and ended up loving it!
6.
In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and my kids were all completing their schoolwork online, I decided that this was also my shot to go back to school.
7.
I’m currently working as a digital workspace engineer during the day and going to school at night in order to finish my degree so that I can move up in the company.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
We can't give you a promotion or title change because you don't have the credentials to do the job.
How I responded:
My company needed to fill a systems engineer role. I volunteered even though I didn't have experience because I was willing to work hard and learn. They let me to give it a shot but wouldn't technically give me the title change. A year later, I was still doing the job. I went back and asked them to resolve this by giving me the promotion. They willingly did. One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that what you know isn't as important as long as you're willing to try, learn, and work hard.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I work in a male-dominated space. My team will say derogatory things that I have to correct. I'll find an issue on someone's computer but they'll want a man to investigate instead. Vendors will tell me to ask the IT guy but I am the "IT guy."