Jody Nichols

What is your current role and what are your primary responsibilities?

Head of Solutions Engineering for Confluent Asia. Responsible for technical sales team that covers Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, and other Southeast Asian countries. Sales people go tell prospects all the wonderful things our product can do, my team proves it.

What skills from your time at SPHS have been most valuable to you?

Collaboration, Teamwork, Communication

How did your career path evolve?

Always a nerd. Started off on implementation side, meaning the sale had been completed and someone needed to come in and get the software up and running. Then got into sales because it sounded more glamorous. 

What advice would you give your past self about career planning?  about life planning?

Trust your gut. Don't be afraid to take a risk or two early on. 

Who was your favorite teacher and why (and which class did they teach)?

Troy Smith. Computer teacher. Amazing human being and incredible teacher. Sadly, he passed away in 2006. 

What extracurriculars did you participate in and how did that shape your time at SPHS?

Not many, see above comment about being a nerd. 

What advice would you give students to maximize their high school experience?

Worry about learning more about yourself than trying to appease others. What you think you want to do now could change 50 times and that is completely fine. 

What are you most proud of since graduating from SP?

Finding a partner who was willing to move abroad with me.

What are your favorite memories from your time at SPHS?

Powder Puff football. Cheering on Women's soccer. 

What did you love about being a student at SP?

Getting to forge traditions as the first graduating class.