About me

“Accidental Engineer, Dedicated Innovator: A Father, Husband, and IT Leader”

As a father of three and a devoted husband residing and contributing to the vibrant tech landscape of Sydney, Australia, I wear multiple hats – one of them being an accidental engineer. My journey into the world of engineering wasn’t charted through conventional means; rather, it unfolded serendipitously when my first office role led me to Cisco Technical Assistant Center (Cisco TAC), where I spent a significant chunk of time logging cases and interacting with the intricate workings of technology.

My fascination with computing traces back to my childhood, where my knack for mathematics and a fortuitous encounter with a computer programming class in 1985 sparked my interest. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in IT, I found myself naturally gravitating towards the realm of technology. From playfully formatting my older sibling’s PC hard disk during the IBM 386/486 era to delving into formal education in IT later in life, my journey has been characterized by a relentless passion for understanding and mastering the inner workings of machines.

While I may not possess a traditional IT or engineering degree, my pursuit of knowledge has been relentless. Leveraging experiences from the Cisco Network Academy, classroom training, and an insatiable appetite for self-improvement through online and offline resources, I’ve honed my skills and expertise over the years. My academic pursuits in Business and Arts have provided a unique perspective, complementing my technical proficiency with a well-rounded understanding of various domains.

Specializing in Cisco Network and Voice Technologies has been a cornerstone of my career, but my curiosity knows no bounds. Embracing the evolving landscape of technology, I’ve embarked on a journey to master Python coding, explore network automation, and deepen my understanding of Linux – a testament to my unwavering love for everything IT.

In an era where some proclaim the decline of the IT industry in advanced economies, I stand firm in my belief that the demand for skilled IT practitioners will persist. While offshore outsourcing may be on the rise, the value of quality craftsmanship and expertise cannot be understated. As I continue to navigate this dynamic landscape, I remain committed to fostering a culture of knowledge-sharing and collaboration.

I firmly believe that stagnant waters breed lifelessness, while a free-flowing exchange of ideas and expertise fuels innovation and growth. In a field as dynamic as IT, embracing change and embracing the unknown is not just a necessity but a philosophy to live by.

March 2024

7 responses to “About me”

  1. Hello Brendan. I really appreciate your blog. I failed a week ago. I have been really pouring in on with the study time. Your blog I found 5 minutes ago and felt compelled to tell you how much I appreciate it.
    I failed by a pretty large margin and was just unprepared.
    I feel much closer but I know its a really tough test.
    If you have anything you an share it will be much appreciated.
    I’m a full time managed services collaboration engineer support our customer base.
    I work for a large gold partner that spans the USA.
    We work from home so we can live anywhere in the world.
    Our Telepresence guy is in Dubai. lol
    You can work for us and live in AU.
    Thanks again mate.

    David Bowen
    dbowen@presidio.com

    Like

    1. Hi David,

      Thank you for your kind words! I am glad that I can help others by sharing my experience. :).

      Anyway, on the exam… I have shared about 40 q&a’s you will need to overwrite the vendor exams. All other Q’s stick with the vendors answers, there was no reason to share them as 95% of the Q’s I left out are correct answers.

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    2. Thank you for the offer! I am sure I may need a stranger’s help when my back pushed to the wall . 🙂 I am also currently working for a good company and it has been looking after me well, although our management team always have a lingering thoughts about offshoring all services to save some penny. A few years back, it was my dream to work in US, but I think I am getting too old for that and in few years time, seriously start considering my retirement plans 🙂

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  2. Nathan Ellsworth Avatar
    Nathan Ellsworth

    Hello. I really like the network diagrams in your Python networking book. Can you share what tool or technique you used to create them? E.g. Figure 11-1. linuxvm2ios lab topology

    Like

    1. Hi Nathan,

      The diagrams are a mixture of custom stencils on Visio. I have recreated a set of stencils drawn from the Visio shapes, so they don’t look like the vendor-provided ones. Invest time to come up with your icons and it is totally worth it if you are writing a book.

      Cheers,

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