This post is part 3 of my series on Amazing Female bloggers.  I'm so honored that there are more women interested in participating in this series!  Show them some love and visit their blogs!

Today's featured bloggers are Lindsay Rutter, Rebecca Isserman and Kathi Kellenberger.  Here are their answers to the standard set of questions:

Kathi Kellenberger - Advice from Aunt Kathi

1. What kinds of things do you discuss in your blog?

Things I discover while working with SQL Server, conferences I go to, SQL Server tips.

2. What is your primary skillset/industry and how did you get started?

I primarily work with SQL Server as a production DBA. I have also worked as a Visual Basic programmer. I got started by turning a hobby into a career about 12 years ago.

3. Did/do you have a mentor? 

I don't think I have a single mentor, but several people have helped me along the way.

4. Did/do you mentor others?  If so, how?

I find that I am constantly teaching other people about SQL Server at work or even throughout the world. I have several articles published that have, hopefully, helped a lot of people write better T-SQL code

5. How do you utilize social networking in your career?

Networking is a big part of my career. I have met many SQL Server gurus by going to the PASS conference for the past five years and becoming involved in our local user group. I find that networking always leads to interesting opportunities. For example, I am speaking at a virtual conference (http://www.vconferenceonline.com/sswug/sqlf/) in October via someone I met at PASS and teaching two T-SQL courses at a local company via someone I know through the local group.

6. Did you go to school to learn your field or are you self-taught?

A bit of both. First I was self-taught, learning MS Access, Visual Basic 4, HTML and Active Server Pages on my own while in another career. A few years after switching careers, I got a Master's degree in CIS.

7. What are some objectives/goals you have for the future?

I would love to do more writing and teaching.  At some point, I would love to not have to do server work during the night and carry a pager all the time, so I am working on getting established as a trainer.

8. What advice would you give other women who are trying to get their start in technology, design or social media?

Even though going to school is important, working on real projects is how you learn. Volunteer your skills to help out your church or kid's school or your favorite charity group to get experience.

9. What advice would you give other women who wish to start a blog?

Just do it! I also have a personal blog on mySpace. As long as I am writing, I am improving my writing skills.

10. What do you do when not working/blogging?  (hobbies/family/etc)

I am married with two grown up kids and have one grandchild. I love to run, cycle, hike and sing.

 

Rebecca Isserman - The Guide of a MOSSLover

1. What kinds of things do you discuss in your blog?

I try to stick to SharePoint or other .Net development related topics, but sometimes stray to personal life items.  For example, I posted pictures for my Baltimore Vacation a couple months ago and spoke about what I did in Baltimore.  I will probably post information on my New England trip sometime in th next few weeks too

2. What is your primary skillset/industry and how did you get started?

I work with SharePoint Development, Administration, and Training.  I started out building websites when I was 15 and continued throughout college.  I tried to learn as many languages as I could soak in (C++, JAVA, Javascript, etc...).  When I graduated with a Computer Science Degree in 2005 I applied for over 100 jobs.  The one place that would interview and hire me just happened to be related to SharePoint Portal Services 2003.  They put me through three months of intense training in SharePoint 2003, InfoPath 2003, and .Net.  I ended up with my MCAD and enough knowledge to become a SharePoint Developer.

3. Did/do you have a mentor? 

Not really.  I'm a bit of a cynic and don't really believe in mentors or heroes.  Everyone has there own knowledge set and can help people out in their own way.

4. Did/do you mentor others?  If so, how?

n/a

5. How do you utilize social networking in your career?

I use social networking a lot.  Obviously, I blog.  I'm on Facebook/LinkedIn.  I use Twitter and instant messaging.  I am also an active member of the Kansas City community.  Some of the people you meet are diverse and interesting and I like to  chat with them on personal topics.  Although, professionally a lot of these people are great when I get stuck or they get stuck we can help each other out in various situations.  For example, I was working with SharePoint Search and posted on Twitter.  Someone replied with a hack that I ended up using at work.  So it plays two roles in my life, to keep in contact/meet new people and to help out in my work life when I get stuck.

6. Did you go to school to learn your field or are you self-taught?

A little bit of Column A and a little bit of Column B.  I have a Computer Science Degree, but I initially I taught myself HTML by studying source code of various websites on the internet.   I am also constantly teaching myself based on new technology.  Most of my SharePoint 2007 knowledge is from reading blogs, books, and experimenting in Visual Studio 2005 based on my knowledge of SharePoint 2003.

7. What are some objectives/goals you have for the future?

I want to bring a Midwest SharePoint Conference to St. Louis or Kansas City.  I also want to speak at SharePoint Connections and then possibley TechEd someday about SharePoint

8. What advice would you give other women who are trying to get their start in technology, design or social media?

Join user groups in your area, because they are a really great resource.  You meet a lot of interesting people and you gain a lot of knowledge on various technologies due to the presentations.  I would also watch as many webcasts and listen to podcasts on topics that interest you.  If you want to go further join Facebook and enroll yourself in the blog network and various google groups.  The key these days is networking and knowledge sharing with as many people as possible.  That way you have something to learn from, where you can share with people.

9. What advice would you give other women who wish to start a blog?

Go to http://www.geekswithblogs.net and do it.  Don't hesitate just do it.  Post on anything you are working on.  Who cares what language or what you are working on technologywise just do it.  You don't need a crazy name like MOSSLover or to post almost every day.  Anything you can do to contribute will be great.

10. What do you do when not working/blogging?  (hobbies/family/etc)

Nothing terribly exciting.  I watch movies, hang out with my boyfriend and cat, watch tv, play video games on my 360/Wii/PS2.

 

Lindsay Rutter - Lindsay's Blog O' Stuff

1. What kinds of things do you discuss in your blog?

The main purpose behind my blog is to provide my local developer community with information about Microsoft development technologies and local happenings.  I usually blog about upcoming events, resources, answer to technical questions I received, and even some geeky ramblings.

2. What is your primary skillset/industry and how did you get started?

I’m a .NET Developer and technical speaker.  I tend to sway to the web development side.  I had never developed in .NET until Microsoft hired me in 2005, straight from college.  I would say my love for computers and programming started back in the early nineties when I took a summer class on “the World Wide Web.”  Once I was introduced to telnet…I was hooked.

3. Did/do you have a mentor? 

Yes, I have a mentor at Microsoft who sits outside my business group, who I can talk to regarding my career path, bounce ideas off of, and who gives me insight that she has gained from all her years in the industry.

4. Did/do you mentor others?  If so, how?

As early as I am in my career, I’ve mentored some summer interns and I’m currently mentoring a high school student who wants to enter the world of computer science.

5. How do you utilize social networking in your career?

Oh, definitely.  As a Developer Evangelist, I am ALL about community and forming relationships with developers.  To do that, I spend a lot of time chatting via Twitter and Facebook.  And, of course, my blog.

6. Did you go to school to learn your field or are you self-taught?

I graduated with a Computer Science Degree from the University of Southern California in 2005.  However, I did not know a SHRED of .NET until I joined Microsoft, so I would say there has been a lot of self-teaching in that regard.

7. What are some objectives/goals you have for the future?

I’m currently working on a list of 101 Things I want to accomplish, you can read my blog once I’m finished!  Professionally, I definitely want to gain more experience, and so I try and work on new/different projects, read a lot and sit at the feet of knowledgeable ‘veterans’.

8. What advice would you give other women who are trying to get their start in technology, design or social media?

First and foremost: don’t be intimidated!   I always hear, “I could never be seen as an expert.”  Someone told me to read for 20 minutes every day on a technology, and after a year you will be an expert.  There are SO many resources out there to help you become familiar with technology, just start reading!  Secondly: ask for help.  When you’re starting out, you have a blank slate – you can ask ‘stupid’ questions!  As someone who came into the Big Blue machine from college, I found people were VERY willing to assist me when I needed it.  I just had to be proactive.

9. What advice would you give other women who wish to start a blog?

Know your audience.  I think one of the rat holes I get stuck in is to try and be everything to everybody, and I need to continually ask myself – what is the purpose of this blog, and what does my community want to hear/see?  And reign myself in. ;)

10. What do you do when not working/blogging?  (hobbies/family/etc)

Besides the typical online & geeky stuff (I spend entirely too much time on Facebook, and I LOVE Guitar Hero), I love spending time with my boyfriend and good friends.  My favorite sport is tennis, and though I don’t always find time to play, I love to watch.  I enjoy traveling and seeing new places, and meeting new people!

 

That's it for this installment of the series!  Tune in next time for part 4! 

Read Part One of the Series

Read Part Two of the Series