In a former position, Sunny Oller researched the latest vulnerabilities, threat analysis, and best practices in cybersecurity. Then when she saw T. Rowe Price's job posting for Senior Programmer Analyst in Security Intelligence, she was intrigued by the possibility of applying her background in security to a different kind of industry.

Sunny, who had always had an interest in both technology and investments, hoped to combine the two by pursuing a career in investment banking. "I thought of the role as a challenge to myself because the financial industry has to have fail-safe security," she explains. "More than anything, I was driven by a curiosity about how I could apply my knowledge in a completely different field."

During her first year with T. Rowe Price, Sunny decided to pursue an MBA degree. It was an opportunity to deepen her understanding of an industry that she found fascinating. "In the past, if you were in business, you didn't necessarily have to know anything about technology. Someone else could handle that for you," says Sunny. "But it's a different world now, and even a business person is expected to have a grasp of technology."

"The reverse is also true," she explains. "If you work in technology, you have to have an understanding of how the business functions. My goal in pursuing an MBA is to understand the business better so that I can think deeper about whether to do something a certain way."

Women working in technology can sometimes encounter pressure to prove themselves. Luckily, Sunny found a supportive and nurturing environment at the firm. "I try to continually meet new people at T. Rowe Price and learn about what their experience has been like," says Sunny. Then, after deciding she wanted to learn more about leadership, she reached out to the head of cybersecurity at the firm, and they met regularly for 30 minutes once a month. "We just shared experiences," she says. "He gave me advice and helped me navigate challenges."

In addition to networking events and mentorship opportunities, Sunny consistently feels supported by the educational opportunities at the firm that help her stay ahead of the latest tech developments. "T. Rowe Price offers the option to take courses through the internal education program," she says. "The firm also gives access to a range of resources so that employees can learn skills at their own pace." There are also opportunities to attend conferences to learn different skills or get training on new software versions before they're even released.

While embarking on a career in technology can be daunting, particularly for a woman who may be the only one on her team, Sunny has some sage advice. "For starters, if you don't know which tech field to get into – then that's your homework," she says. "Second, don't be afraid. Be bold and try learning and working in technology for yourself. I think people think too seriously about whether they are good enough in a particular skill set. Like in security, they may think they have to be an excellent hacker. But I think more than anything you need to have a passion for technology in general because systems and software change in a matter of seconds and you have to have the stamina to keep ahead of the changes, adapt, and recognize how changes affect the next version or the process."

In Sunny's experience, if you have the passion for technology and the willingness to make the best out of available resources, T. Rowe Price can help you grow and be successful in any role or skill set you desire. In fact, pursuing that MBA taught her so much about the investment side that she now has a new role as an investment fellow. Above all, she attributes her recent career transition to her exposure to technology while working at the firm. "It's a very supportive culture at T. Rowe Price," Sunny says. "and that makes a huge difference."