Give some thought about the place you would like to be at in your career. What does it take to get there and what are the specific skills you would need? Carving out your own career plan is highly encouraged by Avanade. Instead of leaving it to external circumstances, you will get more out of your career if you really think about what gives your work meaning and a purpose. If you are willing to take the next step, possibilities come along for you.

In this series, we will be highlighting the careers of Avanadi. Exploring what steps they have taken to get where they are now and how they see the further development of their careers. This entry spotlights Rhesa Baar, Security Architect and Talent Community Lead at Avanade.

Discovering your passion
Rhesa is a security enthusiast and knew early on she had a passion for technology and innovation: “I was 16 when I traveled to the United States for an exchange programme. During my time abroad I focused on higher level math and science courses - something I was very good at, but which was not acknowledged by my peers in The Netherlands. Back then it was a rarity for women to work in tech. Fortunately for me, I was able to develop my passion and gain a lot of knowledge. After my experience abroad I became a student at the Eindhoven University of Technology, following a bachelor’s and master's program in Innovation Sciences. A study y that combines aspects of technology and innovation with social sciences. My technology focus was computer sciences and I followed one semester at the National University of Singapore to enlarge my technology base. I always love traveling and exploring new cultures.”

Working at leading innovators
After writing and defending her master thesis about the Internet of Things and privacy, Rhesa started her in tech: “I began working as a consultant for both national and international customers in the industries and utilities sector. My overall focus was and still is cyber security. I worked on big, innovative projects and met with a lot of interesting customers. During this period I learned about my own preferences in terms of customer profiles and projects.”

Introduction to Avanade
Rhesa traveled the world to meet with clients: “I frequently visited the United States, China, Taiwan and Israel where I worked on different cyber security projects. My main projects were focused on protecting intellectual property and conducting threat and vulnerability assessments. I was introduced to Microsoft solutions and partners when I became Security Architect. It was during this time I learned about Avanade and met people who worked for this company. In 2019 I started working at Avanade as a Security Architect and only one year later I became a Talent Community lead.”

Learning by doing
“Together with my team I help companies define and implement their security strategy. We cover all security aspects using the board security solutions portfolio of Microsoft. At first security and infrastructure was seen as one team, which as a Security Architect and expert I wanted to change. I shared my idea and was given the opportunity to build a successful security team, leading the project. We started out with 12 specialists and now we have a team of 30 people working on security projects. At Avanade, you can co-create with teams and customers, working on the best possible solutions that meet the customers needs and requirements. Learning by doing is my favorite way of learning new technologies and methods. You have the ability to implement your knowledge in actionable ways and engage directly with customers. Next to that, you can connect with a global network of professionals and specialists who are available to help with questions, tasks and best practices.”

Future aspirations
In my career I learned I like to work in multidisciplinary teams. Together we create unique solutions with state-of-the-art technologies and help improve the security strategy of our customers. In the long term I would like to become a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), being responsible for developing and implementing information security programs. Unlimited learning increases the number of opportunities available to you and ensures your qualifications and skills remain aligned with changing needs and requirements. Something I have experienced first hand at Avanade. When I hire new team members I always encourage them to speak about their passion and what motivates them on a daily basis. I find this far more important than having a solid resume and suitable work experience. Being motivated and having the right attitude in combination with effective training will help you get on the right track and develop specific skills.”