One of the masterminds behind Megaport’s industry-leading solutions has shared how she’s helping the company scale up and scale out – and loving every moment.

Since joining Megaport in December 2020, Mylene has skyrocketed through the Megasphere. As Vice President of Product, based in California, she helps her team and other departments achieve their most ambitious goals, while driving Megaport to deliver better products to our customers than ever before. She was recently named one of Capacity Media’s 20 Women to Watch in the telco industry, after being nominated by peers in the sector.
We spoke to Mylene about what she’s learned at Megaport so far, her advice to women in tech, and what she sees in our crystal ball (it’s looking good!).

MP1: Could you give us a quick recap of your time at Megaport?

Mylene: So I started here in December 2020, coming out of what you could call semi-retirement. I was looking for a job that offered me two things. Number one, culture – if I’m going to do something, I’m going to do something I love. And two, the work – it has to be something that I’m passionate about, and for a company that I’m passionate about.

In the last seven months since I started at Megaport, I’ve been so pleased with how this role has progressed – there has been so much great work to do that has had such a positive impact on what we’re trying to achieve: Scale up and scale out. And everyone here has just been so welcoming. I tell everybody how much I love my job; culture is number one at Megaport. I hope that never changes because when people love the culture, they do great work – and great things happen.

MP1: What does a typical day in your role look like?

Mylene: As VP of Product, I wake up every morning thinking about what I can do that day to support my team’s and our company’s success. I have two main goals: to support people, and to make sure we’re prioritizing things that move us in the right direction. So I’ll start the day with some regional calls, then after a little break, I’ll often do back-to-back calls throughout the afternoon. Communication and collaboration are a huge part of this role, to make sure we’re all on the same page and going in the direction we want to go.

MP1: If you had to describe Megaport in one word, what would it be?

Mylene: Passion – because it aligns with everything we do. Passionate people, passionate company, passionate product… Even when you talk to people who have been here for a long time, you still hear so much passion in their voice. People are truly invested in working at Megaport.

MP1: In your time at Megaport, how do you feel you have grown?

Mylene: The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that it’s so important to listen – no matter how long you’ve been somewhere, you can learn something new every single day just by listening. Another lesson I’ve learned is to not be afraid of change. Even though it’s hard, it’s so important to embrace change and to be flexible, especially when you’re part of such an innovative company. To keep evolving, we have to be agile!

MP1: What is your proudest achievement since becoming a Megaporter?

Mylene: To be honest, it would have to be the relationships that I’ve built here and how much I’ve been able to help others. The fact that I can support the people I interact with every day, and collaborate with them to help us all achieve our goals; that’s what I’m most proud of.

Mylene’s fur babies, Izzy (top) and Luca (bottom).

MP1: And what do you think your biggest challenge has been so far?

Mylene: I think it would have to be learning the mechanics and the details of our products. I need to understand our offerings from every perspective so that I can support them to be as successful and useful for our customers as possible. The hardest part of my role is trying to take the time to learn all of that while still trying to execute all of the work that needs to get done at the same time. But I’m going to continue to learn, and I enjoy the process!

MP1: What attitudes or behaviors do you think someone needs in order to be successful at Megaport?

Mylene: We’re on a fast ride and constantly growing, so adaptability is a must. I also think being an effective and transparent communicator is a big one, because it’s so important here to build relationships. We achieve our goals at Megaport by working together. Be proactive – if you can see a way to simplify a process or move it along faster, we want to hear about it. And most importantly, put the customer at the center of everything you do – at the end of the day, we’re here for them! If you focus on these things, chances are you’ll be super successful at Megaport.

MP1: You were recently named one of Capacity Media’s 20 Women to Watch 2021. Congratulations! As a successful female in the tech industry, how do you feel Megaport has supported you to have equal opportunities to succeed?

Mylene: Thank you! The whole Megaport executive team truly believes in the importance of equal representation, both in our company and in the industry, and they work really hard to make sure our actions as a company reflect that value. At Megaport I’m never reminded that I’m a woman in tech, and that’s because it’s never an issue. I am fully supported here.

MP1: For women who want to get into tech, or who already are in tech but want to move to the next level, what advice would you share?

Mylene: My number one tip: Don’t be afraid to be your authentic self and say what’s on your mind. Your opinions, your contributions, they matter just as much as everyone else’s – even when they might be wrong. For women in male-dominated industries, who may find themselves sitting in a room full of men, insecurities can try to creep in…but don’t be discouraged! Speak up and believe that what you have to say is important too. Because it is. The right company will support you, and there are companies out there who will support you – I know because I’m part of one.

"Your opinions, your contributions, they matter just as much as everyone else’s – even when they might be wrong."

MP1: When you’re not at work, what are your favourite things to do?

Mylene: I love playing jazz on the upright bass – I play with a local “big band” jazz group and I’ll always jump in if someone calls asking for a bassist. I also love to hike, and to fish when I can. Other than that, I’m all about spending time with my friends and family, especially recently after going so long without seeing them during the lockdowns!

MP1: Finally, what are you most excited about regarding your future with Megaport?

Mylene: I’m most excited about what my team will achieve. If we continue to collaborate, communicate, and truly care about supporting our customers, we’re going to continue being number one in our market – and we’re going to keep growing. I’m so excited to see where we’ll be in a few months, and a few years!

Interested in a career at Megaport? Take a look at our open roles here.