This blog is part of our on-going Women in Technology series.
Maryam Attar is a Project Manager here with Consilio. While being in the industry since 2008, Maryam joined Consilio in November 2019. Maryam earned her Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from San Francisco State University. To Maryam, the most exciting part about working at Consilio is the challenge of working on various matters and still getting to know everyone at the company.
How did you get into the eDiscovery industry?
I have an IT background, so I got a job as a systems engineer at a vendor back in 2007. I handled IT and networking stuff, and they later sent me to New York to expand the office. I had the opportunity to work with all of the PMs, where I got introduced to eDiscovery software.
Here, I worked with clients, visited review centers, and learned to understand internal networking stuff. I found it very fascinating, as I did have a technical background, but no law background. Eventually, I got into doing PM work and found that understanding the eDiscovery concept means figuring it out yourself. There was no school or certification for it back then.
What pivotal moments in your career helped get you to where you are today?
At specific points in my career, I have switched companies or jobs to pursue more interesting opportunities. Between vendors, I have been able to learn different software, tools, and platforms. Because I came from a smaller company to Consilio as a large company, it feels like a very different environment. But, I do feel like I have finally found my home after all these years.
What is something that you’re particularly proud of accomplishing during your career?
Looking back 12 years ago, I had no idea what I would do in the next 5 years. But, I went on to learn everything while on the job. This included seeing different types of clients and overcoming complex cases. Now, to be honest, every time I oversee a production, and it comes back with no error – that’s an achievement.
What is your advice for women working in a predominately male workplace?
In the workplace, men and women are equal, so regardless of your gender, the person who does the job will succeed. My advice is to be honest with yourself and continue doing the best job that you can do.
What are your techniques for managing competing priorities, work-life balance, time management, etc.?
Working from home has allowed me to handle work-life balance much better. Even though there are clients that require my attention outside of normal business hours, I can still manage my time better while working from home.
I am old fashioned in that I make a to-do list the day before. If things need to come immediately, they go to the top of the list.
When you’re not working, how do you spend your free time?
Under normal circumstances, I do a lot of international travel, which I love. But I also enjoy cooking, reading, and spending time with friends.