Cecilia Barrett: Small Person With A Big Shoe To Fill

Some women simply can't fill other women's shoes. Cinderella's glass slipper was tailored specifically for her feet, and so too Cecilia Barrett's. The local technology wizard leaves her powerful footprints with every step she makes.

Driven by information technology, Barrett enjoys every aspect of the high-tech field from engineering to the hardware.

She humbly basks in a well respected grandeur as one of the few female technical engineers in Jamaica. Her highly prized wits distinguish her from many, and in a male-dominated world, Barrett is unmatched and unshaken by her male compatriots' vigour.

"My zeal to excel and ambition to persevere also separate me from other women," Barrett explained. A graduate of the University of Technology, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computing. A major in Information Technology and a minor in Networking, set the tone for her success. Today, Barrett is an IPTV Head End Engineer at FLOW, where she has been employed since 2013.

She has spearheaded several projects that boosted efficiency and sophistication in FLOW's TV service and customer experience, and played an integral role in video engineering, and in the organisation's Video over Copper project in remote areas of Jamaica.

The daily challenges on the job motivate and moulded Barrett into the strong, relentless woman she has become.

Individuality and Character

What usually surprises many about this powerful woman is her esteemed individuality and character.

"I'm an introvert by nature. What surprises people is the fact that I seem so outgoing, but I truly am a shy person. But I love car racing - It's my passion, but I won't get in a race - I just like to watch it," Barrett said with a chuckle.

The technology mastermind adores playtime. Knowing that hard work and no play will make Cecilia a dull girl, she relishes the moments she gets to spend with friends doing different things, such as hanging out at the movies.

One of her favourite pastime activity is reading. An avid reader, she likes to travel and experience life through books. For Barrett, there is nothing more rewarding than learning from a good read. This love for reading is one of the factors why she considered starting over as a lawyer.

"If I could start over I wouldn't choose IT. Law is so interesting, it's very dynamic with several different aspects to it, and all of that intrigues me."

This sophisticated woman wants to be committed to memory as more than an ordinary woman. She wants to be remembered as a woman of valour who has made a significant impact on others.

Her advice, "Don't be afraid to learn from others, no matter how small or insignificant you think they are, because you'll find knowledge in the most unexpected places," she said.