Precisely Women in Technology: Meet Becky

At Precisely, recognizing individuality is a key value of our organization. This week, we’re introducing you to Becky Hjellming, Precisely’s VP of Product Marketing. Based in Wheaton, IL, Becky has built a 34-year-career in technology and is a member of our Precisely Women in Technology program.

How did you get into the technology field?

My degree is in Computer Science, and I joined Hewlett-Packard out of grad school. I worked in HP’s Colorado Networks Division on networking software for some of the very first HP Vectra PCs, running Windows 1.2. Those were the fun days when we kept our noses on alert so we could smell the prototypes frying in the lab before things got out of hand!

Who has had the greatest impact on your career?

Paul Hartge and I co-founded a startup mobile systems management company in 1996 and sold to Novell in 2001. We had enormous faith in one another and gave each other plenty of room to flex our creativity and grow. The opportunity we gave each other taught me more in five years than I ever dreamed possible. That’s where I first dabbled in Marketing – because somebody had to do it!

What do you love most about technology?

I love that technology never stops advancing. There’s always a new puzzle to solve and fresh technology to explore. And I absolutely love learning about the ways we help customers address myriad business challenges using our technology.

How have you managed to create work/life balance throughout your career?

It is not easy, and my level of work/life balance has varied over time. But, my path to balance has always been a mix of family, fitness, and service. I walk 5K a day and volunteer my time as a webmaster, sing and play for my church, and generally stay open to opportunities to help others. We might be isolated in our homes right now, but somebody can always use a home-cooked meal or a buddy for a socially-distanced walk in a nearby forest preserve.

What are your hopes for other women in the technology field?

My hopes for women in technology are that they always feel confident contributing their voice and their perspectives. Precisely is unique and special in the high percentage of women in our organization. In other organizations that is not often the case. I encourage young women who are just starting their careers to remember that their ideas and skills are always valuable – especially when they come from a unique perspective.

Learn more about us on our Careers and Culture page.