As Indiana’s tech community continues to grow and mature, it’s getting harder and harder to narrow down the winners for our annual Tech 25 Awards program. Clearly, there is a wealth of tech talent in the Hoosier state, and they are making incredible moves. Join us in celebrating the Tech 25 class of 2020 through this profile series and learn a bit more about each winner.

Jennifer Benak is an IT administrator with the NCAA and a senior-level Agile coach with more than 25 years of experience in IT operations, application development, project management, and product development. She has a proven track record of successfully leading project teams, facilitating product development, coaching individuals and teams, and getting results. She is passionate about coaching teams to maximize performance and leading technology-driven organizations to success. Jenny considers herself a servant leader, and it shows by how involved she is with the community, working with groups like Agile Indy, and more.

What led you to get into tech and this occupation? What was your first job in tech?

My undergraduate degree was in Organizational Leadership and Supervision with a minor in Computer Science. I have always been interested in technology, but I was fortunate enough to have my first professional job in the IT space. I was hired right after graduating at a company that initially hired me to process insurance claims. A month went by, and they moved me into testing their major proprietary application for their core business. My love for technology started there and never ended.

What are the main work activities you do or responsibilities you have?

I am an active participant on multiple teams by facilitating, coaching, training, and whatever is needed in order to deliver value to the organization. Even more so, given our current situation, a very important part of my daily job is always to monitor the health of my team and support my team members.

Which resources would you recommend to those who want to learn more or advance their skills in this occupation?

There are so many, but I will try to narrow it down. Some of my favorite people to follow on LinkedIn are:

All of the information for their books, websites, podcasts, and additional resources are available on their profiles.  You can also register to become a member of the AgileIndy group at www.agileindy.org.

Jennifer Benak is a Tech 25 winner who is helping to grow and improve the tech landscape of Indiana. She was nominated by her Director, IT Project Management Office, Kristi Kennedy. To learn more about the Tech 25 Awards, click here.

Visit the Indianapolis Business Journal website to see the full listing and celebration of the 2020 Tech 25 honorees in the joint CTO of the Year and Tech 25 Awards supplement. You can also watch a video of the livestream from the CTO of the Year and Tech 25 Awards virtual event.