Getting started in tech. BY ANDREW GOTHELF • ILLUSTRATIONS BY RON LIM n December 2008, I had a conversation with a man at an airport that would I change my life. I noticed he was wearing a Northwestern University shirt (my school at the time) and we started talking about my studies at Northwestern’s School of Journalism. He told me of a friend who had graduated from there and founded a tech startup, Buddy Media. I took his card and thanked him. The following spring, I began to look for broadcasting internships in New York City and decided to reach out to my Buddy Media contact, who was gracious enough to chat with me by phone for a few minutes. I asked if they needed any help that summer. He said yes. The three months with the company were incredible. I left with valuable connections and a nascent interest in technology. And when I decided to move back to New York after graduation, I called Buddy Media again and was hired for a full-time position. Eventually, the company was bought by Salesforce. And I’m still working in tech — all because of the kindness of a stranger who decided to help a college kid. I was curious how a few of our AppExchange partners got into tech, what they love about it, their challenges, and what advice they have for people either starting their careers or looking to switch to tech. The following profiles highlight executives from IBM, Accounting Seed, Conga, and DocuSign, and reveal a range of career arcs and perspectives on working in technology. 16 THE EXCHANGE FALL 2018 WINTER 2019 THETHE EXCHANGE EXCHANGE 17