IT teams form the backbone of every tech company, ensuring that its systems have the reliability, security and strength to drive its people — and its mission — forward.
At InStride, IT Operations Manager Geoffrey Garces pursues a critical mission: expanding access to life-changing education. To accomplish this aim, he ensures that everyone has access to the right tools, support and scalable systems to create seamless, secure experiences.
“Our IT team puts people first,” Garces said. “We’re a close-knit group that values curiosity, collaboration and continuous learning.”
Being in IT is about more than resolving tickets — it’s about sparking meaningful change. For Software Engineer Heather Willis and her colleagues at food and agriculture company Cargill, this change takes the form of providing “better nutrition for better lives,” which they accomplish by programming new functionalities and making software updates to better serve the company’s customers.
She and her peers are dedicated to bolstering the success of the business — and each other. While Willis works with teams across the globe, she feels continuously closely connected to her colleagues, making it easy to drive the company’s mission forward.
“People are quick to respond and always willing to help, which makes a big difference when you’re working across time zones,” she said.
Alongside Garces and Willis are four other IT team members from companies across the country who are equally dedicated to driving success. Read on to learn more about each one and gain insight into what it’s like to work on their teams.
Cargill provides food, ingredients, agricultural solutions and industrial products across 125 markets worldwide.
What is your role on the IT team, and what are your responsibilities?
I am a software engineer at Cargill working from our new Atlanta office. I work with pricing software that manages pricing, rebates and promotions for our animal nutrition business. With my team, I program new functionalities and make updates to better serve our customers, so that they can provide better nutrition for better lives. Although I work with a small — but growing — team in Atlanta, I am also connected to teams across the globe, from Poland to Brazil. After just a short time with the company, I am excited about my potential impact, including mentoring new employees and providing a more personal customer-centric approach to a new in-house engineering team.
How does Cargill support IT professionals? What opportunities for learning and growth are offered, and how does your team effectively work together?
One thing I’ve really appreciated is how much Cargill invests in our growth — not just in our current roles, but in our broader career paths. We have access to LinkedIn Learning, which makes it easy to explore new skills. I recently took a course on sustainability that really expanded my perspective. For my role specifically, Cargill is also covering the cost of a PriceFx certification, which is directly relevant to the tools we use. Even though our team is spread around the globe, there’s a strong culture of support. People are quick to respond and always willing to help, which makes a big difference when you’re working across time zones.
“Even though our team is spread around the globe, there’s a strong culture of support.”
Why might someone want to join Cargill’s IT team? What routines, traditions and perks does your team offer?
For me, I was drawn to the stability of the food and agriculture industry. It felt like a place where I could grow my career while contributing to something that really matters — feeding the world. Since joining, I’ve found the work to be meaningful, and the people have been incredibly welcoming and supportive.
Our team has a great culture — we make time to eat lunch together, and as we grow, we’re looking forward to doing more outside of work, too. I also really enjoy the office itself. On the days I go in, it’s nice to work in a space with big windows that let in tons of natural light and overlook midtown Atlanta. It makes a difference to have that kind of environment. Plus, the fancy coffee machine is a small but fun perk that adds something special to the day.
Maxar Technologies leverages high-resolution satellite imagery and AI-powered software platforms to provide true information in near real-time.
What is your role on the IT team, and what are your responsibilities?
I currently lead the infrastructure, operations and engineering organization in Maxar IT. We operate Maxar’s datacenters, network, servers, storage, platforms and more. We also partner closely with our colleagues to build and engineer the critical services that power all of the cool technology Maxar’s mission depends on.
How does Maxar support IT professionals? What opportunities for learning and growth are offered? How does your team effectively work together?
Maxar depends on each of its employees keeping up with the rapidly changing world of technology. In IT, we encourage and support all employees to invest in continuing education, both within their area of core competency as well as in adjacent areas. We want to ensure our skill sets continue to evolve to meet the future needs of the business.
“We want to ensure our skill sets continue to evolve to meet the future needs of the business.”
Why might someone want to join Maxar Technologies’ IT team? What routines, traditions and perks does your team offer?
Aside from joining a team that supports flying satellites using some of the coolest, state-of-the-art technology and software, and being at the center of so many important world events, our IT team is made up of some of the best and brightest technologists, all of whom are passionate about supporting the company mission. There is no shortage of fascinating and innovative work to be done, and you’ll have a great deal of independence in being able to work on projects that interest you outside of your core area of expertise.
Apex Fintech Solutions’ ecosystem of platforms, APIs and services is designed to help organizations navigate the future of finance, offering fractional share-trading, robo-investing and more.
What is your role on the IT team, and what are your responsibilities?
I am a desktop support analyst. As a DSA, I respond to, troubleshoot and resolve hardware, software and network issues for end users — both remotely and onsite in Austin, Texas for desktops, laptops, printers, mobile devices and other peripherals. I help maintain our internal IT service desk queue, prioritize and respond to service desk tickets in line with service level agreements, and assist with onboarding and off-boarding processes, including equipment provisioning and account setups/deactivation. Lastly, I ensure compliance with IT security policies critical to a regulated financial environment. Occasionally, I will be assigned to help with projects by leading training sessions, creating documentation or helping with the implementation and configuration of new applications.
How does Apex Fintech Solutions support IT professionals? What opportunities for learning and growth are offered, and how does your team effectively work together?
Working at Apex, I’m given the technology I need to do my job successfully, such as modern hardware, various cloud services and tools to help me automate and work more efficiently, including the use of our internal AI companion. Apex leadership continually provides feedback and performance development by having structured sessions, such as bi-weekly one-on-ones to discuss goals, progress and opportunities for growth and personal career development plans with specific tracks for skill-building and progression, along with recognizing milestones when completed in performance reviews. The desktop support team collaborates with departments across the company — information security, infrastructure and operations — for issues, escalations and projects. Desktop support isn’t just a help desk; we’re involved with business discussions and pilot projects, giving input early on. We communicate heavily on Slack and Zoom.
“Desktop support isn’t just a help desk; we’re involved with business discussions and pilot projects, giving input early on.”
Why might someone want to join Apex Fintech Solutions’ IT team? What routines, traditions and perks does your team offer?
Our culture is hands-down one of the best I’ve ever experienced in my professional career. Knowledge-sharing, mentorship and genuine camaraderie are a focus — there is a definite sense of, “We’re all in this together.” We collaborate daily or multiple times a week to align on our goals, roadblocks and cross-team needs. We have quarterly offsites to help promote face-to-face collaboration and afterwork socials as well as an awesome peer recognition system. Leadership is flexible and, depending on the role, hybrid work is an opportunity. We are encouraged to recharge and maintain a work-life balance, along with competitive pay, outstanding PTO and modern equipment, including high-quality laptops, 5k monitors and ergonomic office desk setups.
Most importantly, we have a seat at the table. IT’s voice is heard during decision-making, not just when responding to requests. Apex IT is seen as a driver of Apex Fintech Solutions’ success. After all, that’s what a fintech company should be.
Huntress’ cybersecurity platform enables organizations to employ endpoint detection and response, protect Microsoft 365 environments and employee identities, offer security awareness training and more.
What is your role on the IT team, and what are your responsibilities?
I’m a senior helpdesk administrator at Huntress, where I help ensure that our internal IT operations run efficiently for both new and existing employees. Our IT team supports nearly 600 fully remote employees, managing everything from employee onboarding and offboarding to device procurement and account and access management. We field incoming support requests, troubleshoot technical issues, and serve as a reliable point of contact to keep things running smoothly as the company continues to rapidly grow. We’re also often the first stop for any security-related concerns from end users, and we know when to triage and escalate issues appropriately. One of the aspects I enjoy most about my role is the chance to improve workflows through automation and self-service. These efforts often involve cross-functional collaboration to make improvements across the company. I also take part in system audits, license management, company training sessions, interviewing candidates and much more!
How does Huntress support IT professionals? What opportunities for learning and growth are offered, and how does your team effectively work together?
Huntress invests in its people, and one way it supports IT professionals and all employees is through a generous professional development fund. I’ve been able to use it for training courses and certifications, which has been a great way to continue growing my skills. I’m especially grateful for the opportunity to learn beyond my role by job shadowing and collaborating with other departments. It has helped me gain a better understanding of how different teams operate and what a typical day looks like in other roles.
IT is truly a team effort, and success depends on strong cross-functional collaboration. Even as a fully remote company, our team does a pretty great job of staying connected through dedicated Slack channels, thorough documentation, one-on-ones or group meetings, and access to knowledge base articles. As Huntress continues to grow quickly, our team has done a great job of staying flexible and supportive. The company’s commitment to transparency also encourages a strong culture of self-service, making it easy to find the information and resources you need to do your best work.
“As Huntress continues to grow quickly, our team has done a great job of staying flexible and supportive.”
Why might someone want to join Huntress’ IT team? What routines, traditions and perks does your team offer?
The IT team at Huntress is a great fit for people who take ownership of their work and care about making a real impact. I’ve been here for a little over a year and a half, and the team members who stand out are always the ones who bring qualities you can’t teach, like integrity, curiosity and a genuine drive to help others.
When I interview potential teammates, I look for people who truly care about the quality of their work and how it supports those around them. If you enjoy solving problems and supporting others and believe in sharing knowledge instead of gatekeeping, this could be a great opportunity for you! You’ll get to work with some of the best in the industry and help keep things running smoothly at a company that’s doing some really exciting things.
The perks at Huntress are great! We’re fully remote, but we still get to connect in person a few times a year through companywide and department offsites, with all expenses covered. Also, it’s not uncommon to find cookies and snacks delivered to my house for employee appreciation day, GrubHub credits for monthly lunch-and-learn sessions, and even perks like free training that my friends and family can take part in, too.
Tufin’s solutions are designed to help large enterprises manage and enforce a unified security policy across their complex networks and cloud environments.
What is your role on the IT team, and what are your responsibilities?
My role is the sole IT administrator in the United States for Tufin. I am responsible for ensuring our end users are happy and that our systems are operational! Tufin is a company full of IT professionals, and I am the lucky one who gets to support all of our other IT professionals.
How does Tufin support IT professionals? What opportunities for learning and growth are offered, and how does your team effectively work together?
Tufin is a tech company full of incredibly smart IT professionals and, as such, they support us in a variety of ways. We are given a number of opportunities and platforms for learning and increasing our own skill set. Tufin also provides quite a good bit of training internally on our own product. Many of our technical users have moved through different roles within the company thanks to this! We are spread out across the globe but still find ways to collaborate together on a variety of tasks and projects. Many of the products in our tech stack help enable this for us.
“We are given a number of opportunities and platforms for learning and increasing our own skill set.”
Why might someone want to join Tufin’s IT team? What routines, traditions and perks does your team offer?
Tufin, as a company, has a fantastic culture — one that makes it a truly special place to work.
InStride’s platform enables organizations to offer free, career-aligned educational opportunities for employees.
What is your role on the IT team, and what are your responsibilities?
I’m the manager of IT operations at InStride, where I lead a team dedicated to maintaining secure, efficient systems that empower our employees to do their best work. My focus is on making sure our people have the right tools, support and scalable systems to stay productive and innovative. Whether it’s onboarding new hires, resolving technical issues or implementing enterprise-wide solutions, we work to remove friction and create seamless, secure experiences. I view IT as a strategic partner in how we deliver on InStride’s mission. By prioritizing usability, reliability and forward-thinking practices, we help the organization focus on what matters most: expanding access to life-changing education.
How does InStride support IT professionals? What opportunities for learning and growth are offered, and how does your team effectively work together?
At InStride, we don’t just support growth externally; we live it internally, especially within our IT team. I take a people-first approach to leadership in my role and am passionate about helping my team grow their technical and professional skills. InStride offers access to a wide range of development resources, such as certifications, company-led leadership sessions, full degree programs through our debt-free education program, Step Forward, and specialized training through vendor partnerships. Just as important are the everyday ways we support each other through open communication, which includes weekly one-on-one meetings focused on growth and personal connection, cross-training sessions and time set aside for innovation.
The most rewarding part of my job is seeing team members gain confidence, take on new challenges, and grow into senior roles by following their passions. I strive to create a space where people feel safe to be themselves, challenge ideas and bring their full potential to the table.
“I strive to create a space where people feel safe to be themselves, challenge ideas and bring their full potential to the table.”
Why might someone want to join InStride’s IT team? What routines, traditions and perks does your team offer?
Our IT team puts people first. We’re a close-knit group that values curiosity, collaboration and continuous learning. We do more than resolve tickets. We build smart, secure solutions that challenge our thinking as a company and create meaningful impact across the business and the communities we serve. We create an environment where team members are encouraged to bring ideas forward, take ownership, and explore new skills, and we make space to celebrate wins, share knowledge, and encourage each other. I’m committed to helping each IT team member map their growth and feel connected to the bigger picture, contributing to our mission that’s centered on expanding access to education.
