Building a world of opportunity at NTT DATA

Upon joining NTT DATA, I did not realize I was stepping into what would become a two-decade long journey of growth, learning, and incredible experiences. Over the years, I have taken on many distinct roles—developer, project manager, delivery center leader—and along the way, I have discovered that the true essence of this organization lies in its people and its culture.

The most rewarding part of my time here has been collaborating with people as part of a team. Whether it was forming a new team for a client account, building on an existing portfolio, or managing multiple teams as the Lead of the Halifax Delivery Centre, I have always enjoyed collaborating with people, recruiting talent, mentoring, and supporting others in their roles.

  One of the things that stood out early in my career was the camaraderie built at the Halifax centre. The supporting structure for new employees — the mentors, the social activities, the charitable events—a culture that makes a workplace great was there. We built friendships through company events, sports leagues, and community involvement. Many of those people have become lifelong friends and we still get together on occasion to make new memories.

A world of experiences

I fondly remember my first international assignment took me to the United Kingdom for six months, where I collaborated with a major client. Not only did I learn a lot, but I also got to travel extensively in Europe. I have since travelled to India, the United States, and many other places for work. Each trip has been an amazing learning experience. Getting to know the people, the cultures in different cities and countries has been amazing thus far. I have always enjoyed trying new foods or new adventures—whether it was dinner with teammates in India and seeing the Taj Mahal in India or enjoying Belgian waffles in Brussels.

Travel took some time to get used to, I can still remember the nerves of flying to Boston alone for the first time. Navigating the challenges taught me a great deal of and gave me the confidence to continue to take on new challenges. Now travel is something we share and enjoy on a regular basis with our kids. More on that later.

The Halifax Delivery Centre has played a pivotal role in my career. Back in 1997 when it opened, it was ramping up with a lot of people coming from university or early in their careers. The company did an excellent job of mentorship. That culture of learning and support prepared us for roles of increasing responsibility. The centre itself grew and evolved rapidly, offering constant opportunities for growth to team members. New opportunities could take many forms, they could be a different role within the same client account or a new account which allowed you to leverage your industry and technical knowledge and build new skills. It was the variety of roles and the chance to work on different teams that made working with NTT DATA always so interesting.

The connections I built through Halifax extended globally. I formed close ties with colleagues in India, the U.S., and Costa Rica. Our family visited Costa Rica twice now and both times was able to spend a day with a colleague and his family for days at the beach, tours, and great food. It is this blend of professional and personal connections that makes NTT DATA a unique place to work for me.

People-centric culture

NTT DATA’s culture has always proven to be people-centric, and it continues to deepen in recent years. They take best practices to a global level, providing more holistic support to everyone. Our Employee Resource Groups and global innovation efforts are bringing people together across the globe in meaningful ways. Employees can become involved in the programs they are enthusiastic about, as well as align their own volunteer and charitable contributions through NTT DATA global initiatives.

One initiative I am proud to be part of is One NTT, which aims to align regional accounts across the globe. This helps NTT teams align our internal strengths and teams to best serve existing and new clients. It will also strengthen overall employee experiences and improves global collaboration.

Family and travel

Over the years, we have always been interested in travel as a family Now that they are teenagers, we are in a position that we can fuel the family passion with regular trips.

This past year, we were fortunate enough to venture out on several trips. In March, we went to Switzerland and tried skiing as a family for the first time. Along with enjoying the scenery in the Swiss Alps and racing down Europe’s highest toboggan run, we got to enjoy the food of course. We visited Paris on that same trip where we toured all the city sights, including the Eiffel Tower. In June, we headed off to Amsterdam, Belgium, and London. After enjoying the great food and touring the beautiful sites in Belgium and Amsterdam we travelled to London for three great days of concerts at Hyde Park. When we are home, we enjoy golfing, camping, and cooking as a family. I coach my daughter’s ringette team while my wife sits on the board of my son’s kayaking club. Taking time for family and personal passions helps us to recharge.

If I could offer one piece of advice to someone starting their career at NTT DATA, it would be this: Take advantage of all the opportunities. Whether it is traveling for work, taking on new assignments, joining an ERG or learning from mentors, do not hesitate to step out of your comfort zone. People here are happy to help, and it is an incredibly supportive environment so ask questions, seek guidance, and embrace the journey ahead.

At NTT DATA, the culture is focused on creating opportunities for growth, fostering meaningful connections and supporting our people every step of the way. Discover how you can be part of this culture.

Visit our careers page.