Women Who Build — Alyssa Putnam
An interview with Alyssa Putnam — Talent Acquisition Director
This is the fifth in our series about Women Who Build (WW_B) — an internal Slalom Build community focused on recruiting and retaining the best technical talent and dispensing with the idea that tech is non-inclusive. With a mission “to engage, inspire, and encourage every Slalom woman to achieve her full and unique potential”, WW_B is supporting female technologists across the organization, and throughout their careers. Check out more of our WW_B profiles here.
Meet Alyssa Putnam, a Talent Acquisition Director that supports all of Slalom Build.
Where did your career start?
I started my career in the software start-up community in Seattle WA. I joined a small organization of about 30 people which allowed me to get broad exposure outside of my role early in my career journey.
What drew you to the tech industry?
I’ve been drawn to technology ever since childhood, how it can influence and change how our world works. When I was 8 years old I got an MP3 player. It was slightly bigger than a deck of cards, weighed as much as a brick, and held about 6 songs — depending on the length of the song lol. It empowered me to select my favorite songs from any artist/genre and bring them with me wherever I went. Such a game changer.
What was a high-impact event in your career that’s shaped who you are today?
This for me was when moved across the country to launch our first build center on the East Coast. It required both personal sacrifice — leaving friends and family behind, and a commitment to get uncomfortable from a work standpoint — building new professional relationships, learning the nuances of a new market, taking on different responsibilities. The most impactful experiences have happened when I’ve been willing to take on some risk and step outside my realm of comfort and familiarity.
What brings you joy in your work?
Oh there are lots of things, but the thing that brings me the most joy is meeting a stranger and having them become a friend. In the field of talent acquisition I’m given the opportunity to meet so many interesting and brilliant people, hear about their professional backgrounds and accomplishments as well as their personal stories, passions, and hobbies. I love learning from others and figuring out the things I have in common with people all over the world!
What brought you to Slalom?
The opportunity to learn and grow and the people brought me to Slalom. I was keen on being a part of a growing organization where I could make a tangible impact, and expand my own skill set alongside the company as it itself grew. The incredibly authentic people made joining Slalom a no brainer decision.
What’s the vibe of your market?
I recently moved back to Seattle after living in Boston for the last 5 years, and can confidently say that the vibes are strong in both locations! The culture in our build centers and the quality of our builders is consistent across all markets.
If you were Queen for a day — what are the top 3 things you’d do with that power?
- Make equal pay for equal work a reality
- Establish free and accessible education for all
- Acquire a yacht and then WFY while exploring the world by sea
Alyssa is one of many inspiring women that Slalom Build is proud to have as part of the team. We’ll be bringing more stories from these exceptional individuals as we continue in our series of Women Who Build.
