LENA KLASSEN

A little bit more about me - I’ve spent the last few months pursuing a degree in Information at the University of Toronto’s iSchool, which has been an incredible journey of growth as I’ve expanded on my knowledge in design, computer architecture, information policy, and much more. My passion for people, computers, and information security brought me from Seattle, where I worked as an IT Systems Analyst for a venture capital firm, to Toronto’s iSchool, where I get to continue building on the knowledge that I’ve collected through my work experience.

My career in IT started long before my IT Systems Analyst job. Roughly four years prior, while working for a medium sized agricultural business, I stumbled into the position of point person for any office IT issues. This is when I first realized that I loved learning about technology as well as helping others become productive and successful technology users. The company’s IT director took note of my work, pulled me into the IT department, trained me up, and I eventually became the company's Server Manager, in charge of all of the company’s servers as well as the intracompany videoconferencing system. The desire for additional education led me to the Pacific Northwest, where I attained an Associates Degree with a focus in Computer Science at Bellevue College. 
 

Prior to these accomplishments, I grew up in rural Manitoba, enjoying fresh prairie air and surviving frigid winters. Growing up on a hobby farm in a family of twelve taught me many valuable lessons about working hard and working as a team. Additionally, it taught me the importance of getting things done in a timely fashion, since a dinner table with nine siblings means that you better be quick to grab some grub before it’s all gone!