
Chris Najera
Director of Innovation and Technology
Willdan Group Inc.
Willdan Group Inc.
Director of Innovation and Technology
I lead the company in thinking about different ways to solve very common engineering problems.
The typical day-to-day work is mostly operational, making sure servers and systems are up and running, etc. But my high-level work is all about problem-solving, usually revolving around implementing a particular system, or designing a new approach that will solve a very difficult problem for our clients. My company is domestic, but I travel extensively to meet with stakeholders, VPs, CEOs, and to walk them through different systems that will help them solve their business problems.
Here's the first step for middle school students
You need a natural curiosity - technology by its very nature grows organically through curiosity, through people taking an interest in a tool, and then figuring out more innovative ways to use that tool. You need to look at something and be thinking, "Is there a better way to use this? Is there a different way to think about this?" That's the very basis of how development evolves.
"You're too young to get my respect."