If you’re going to partner with an external provider for IT support, you want to know who exactly will manage your technology. Ideally, this will be a long-term business relationship where your provider deeply understands your needs to provide solutions that actually work in your context.
Getting a glimpse into the company’s culture and values can help you make an informed decision about who will fit your environment.
That’s why we’re thrilled to share some behind-the-scenes information today about one of the people behind our company’s high-quality IT solutions. Meet Barb Plicka, our Vice President of Partner Relations, an inspiring leader who takes a people-first approach to every aspect of her job.
We hope that by getting to know Barb, you’ll feel more personally connected to Bulletproof and excited to be a part of our community. You’ll also better understand the depth of experience and expertise we apply to develop the strategies driving your IT forward.
Keep reading to learn about Barb’s story. We share some fascinating and fun facts about how Barb came to work in IT, her approach to business leadership, her book recommendations, hobbies, and more.
How Barb’s people skills translated into IT success
In her role managing Bulletproof’s strategic partnerships with key vendors, resellers, and distributors, Barb’s biggest priority is leading with kindness and creating a culture where people can feel safe to learn and grow.
She came to this role as a compassionate executive in the IT industry through an unexpected path, previously working as a teacher in the public and private sectors for more than ten years.
In 2012, her tech-savvy partner, Devin, followed his dream of founding his own company, Concordis Solutions Inc. His mission was to provide end-to-end IT solutions specializing in Cisco Systems technologies.
A few years later, in 2015, Barb bought out Devin’s business partners, leaving behind the world she knew in education. Her ability to manage students in education seamlessly transitioned into managing employees and vendors and conducting effective sales and marketing campaigns. With Barb’s influence, she helped Devin grow the business into a thriving Cisco integrator.
After several successful years, Bulletproof approached the two with an offer to buy out their company. They wanted to retain Barb, Devin and their team, and blend their skills and knowledge into one dynamic business. From the start, the existing leadership team at Bulletproof strongly believed in Barb’s capacity to fulfill her vital responsibilities because they knew that her superpower was in people.
The reading list that drives Barb’s business vision
Despite not having an initial background in IT, Barb has excelled in this sector due to her passion, dedication, and intelligence. She spends a significant amount of her personal time learning about business best practices, citing business expert Patrick Lencioni’s book The Ideal Team Player and Disney CEO Robert Iger’s book Ride of a Lifetime as two sources of key insights that influence her approach.
On the surface, a business like Disney and Bulletproof don’t have much in common: they aren’t the same size nor in the same industry. However, Barb aspires to apply the same customer service approach that the entertainment company does so well to the customer service we provide our clients. She commits daily to finding new ways to shine and take new steps to deliver exceptional experiences. Just as Disney is dedicated to creating memorable moments, Barb strives to bring that same level of care and attention to every client interaction.
Barb also works on growing her knowledge by participating in peer groups to learn new best practices and staying updated on industry trends. From gleaning insights, success stories, or failure lessons from industry leaders and authors, it helps her adapt Bulletproof’s approach to keep us best-in-class in our solutions and services.
Barb’s keys to success in a male-dominated tech industry
Throughout her IT MSP career, Barb has become an essential female leader in a tech-space that is predominantly run by men. Her goal has always been to celebrate and uplift other women in IT. Particularly, she hopes to pass on the kindness and mentorship she received from many women at the start of her IT career and continues to experience today.
This network of women includes Cathy Vankesteren and Melissa Gould, who she met in the peer groups that she joined when she first started in the industry.
When it comes to Cathy, Barb always jokes that she always wanted to be like her when she grew up — despite meeting in her 30s. She sees her as the epitome of a strong leader and of kindness, always happy to celebrate the people around her. Particularly, Barb recognizes Cathy’s generous support as an integral ingredient to her growing confidence as she built her career.
Melissa has also inspired Barb with her approach to how she handled her high-stress, high-level role at Lenovo. Being close to the same age and a fellow working mom, Barb always felt like Melissa understood her circumstances and encouraged her to keep going and succeed.
A peek into Barb’s hobbies outside work
When she’s not managing Bulletproof’s relationships with its stakeholders, Barb loves to spend time in nature. She especially enjoys swimming, hiking, and skiing in the beautiful, calming Alberta mountains. And most importantly, she absolutely loves her adorable dog Ty, who she walks down to enjoy the river every weekend and evening in the summers.
Almost every day, you’ll also find her making tomato sauce, pickles, processing and canning other produce to help her family eat nutritiously year-round. Passionate about helping people access delicious and healthy food, Barb works with a local farmer at Souto Farms in her spare time, representing them at farmer’s markets in the summers. .
Her dedication to uplifting other women even extends to this area of her life: twenty years ago, she learned from a few older women in her neighbourhood about how to homestead and preserve food. This year, she began sharing her expertise with local women who sought her guidance, continuing her commitment to empowering others in her community.
Partner with Bulletproof to join our supportive IT community
What a fascinating journey! Barb’s story reflects her commitment to people, continuous learning, and fostering growth in all areas of her life.
This approach is critical to helping Bulletproof IT deliver high-quality IT solutions that truly meet the needs of our clients.
With cybersecurity being the most pressing challenge facing technology companies today, understanding people is critical to helping businesses keep their data safe and with adequate protection. As bad actors rapidly evolve their sophisticated tactics, humans are often the weakest link in a company’s defense. Businesses need IT experts who understand how to provide the proper user education and tools to reflect this reality.
Our team is ready to help you manage your IT and create a strong cybersecurity posture with reliable, affordable, and proactive solutions. Contact us today to discuss how we can support your needs.