Nadine is a key member of the Blu Wireless team. With 18 years’ experience in the wireless industry across integration and test, software development and hardware/software support, including positions at picoChip and BlackBerry. Nadine’s role as Technical Marketing Manager is vital to the everyday operations of the business.

Describe a typical day in your role: What are your core responsibilities?

Nadine: As Technical Marketing Manager, I review technical marketing sources and industry reports, then gather any relevant requirements that might feed into our work. I’m involved in many projects regarding the 60Ghz certification and productisation process including the Telecom Infra Project (TIP), which is focused on defining what Fixed Wireless Access is going to look like in the future.

Two other major parts of my role are product definition roadmap and writing marketing requirements. The whole product process from initial marketing requirements gathering to product proposal, that once accepted and approved, I need to trace through to final product. It involves constant travels, one of my favourite parts of the role. Events are an opportunity to find out more about the industry. My role is really varied, as I also handle account management for North America: no two days are the same.

What is it about your role that you enjoy the most?

Nadine: That’s tricky, because there is not just one thing. With the job I do, there is a lot of opportunity to travel. I go to different industry events and represent Blu Wireless on wireless committees such as the Wi-Fi Alliance, where I help to define the interoperability process and write the Marketing Requirements Document. I enjoy representing Blu Wireless, meeting project collaborators in person and really experiencing the programs we are working on. I find my work extremely interesting and the opportunity to represent Blu Wireless externally makes me feel proud to work here.

How has your career progressed at Blu Wireless? Have you experienced any changes of role or taken on responsibility for any significant projects?

Nadine: When I started at Blu Wireless four years ago, we became voting members of the Wi-Fi Alliance and we were asked personally to be part of the 60GHz interoperability program. As well as working with these partners, I’ve enjoyed managing many different US accounts and have had a lead role in multiple projects.

What has been your favourite project to work on at Blu Wireless and what was your role within that?

Nadine: I like working on our Wi-Fi Alliance engagements because they are very process driven. We get to start right from the point that the standard is defined, then on to having a group requirements assessment through to what a full interoperability program can look like. It is very fulfilling, especially when many world-leading companies are involved. The journey from standard architecture to a realised interoperability program where companies can apply the technology in real-world scenarios is amazing to see. I’m proud to be a part of it.

How did you start out your career? What made you decide to join Blu Wireless?

Nadine: Before I joined Blu Wireless, I completed a PhD in Physical Chemistry at the University of Bristol. After early roles at ST Microelectronics and Infineon I moved on to work  for picoChip in Bath for 10 years, supporting the implementation of complex wireless standards on field-programmable node arrays which gave me great hands-on experience of working for a start-up that grew to become a larger company. I was also very involved with the Wi-Fi Alliance in previous roles, though not in terms of interoperability program definition. I was more involved in the technical side, including managing the Wi-Fi team at BlackBerry and making sure that our products were compliant with the Wi-Fi certification programs. I heard about Blu Wireless through a colleague I previously worked with at picoChip and this role sounded like the perfect opportunity for me.

If you had to describe Blu Wireless in three words, what would these be?

Nadine: Innovative, trail-blazing, reliable.

What do you like about working with the rest of the Blu Wireless team?

Nadine: Interestingly, even though I’m not regularly in our Bristol office since I am located in Canada, I’m on Skype calls with various members of the team every single day for hours at a time. I really appreciate the relaxed yet professional approach the team has – there is definitely a British culture of camaraderie which makes working together fun. It’s great to be back in that environment whenever I can. While I do work remotely, it’s never a barrier, I know I can rely on people and work closely with the team.

What opportunities do employees at Blu Wireless benefit from?

Nadine: For me it’s all about the role, I get the opportunity to provide a lot of input on how my role works, the direction of my work, who I work with, so I feel like for me it would be the work environment. Great people, flexibility and the ability to effect change.