Caoimhe Fitzpatrick: Fostering Connections and Exploring Career Opportunities at Dell
Caoimhe Fitzpatrick | Associate Systems Engineer I | Round Rock, United States
Originally Published: June 23, 2025
Hi! I’m Caoimhe Fitzpatrick, and yes, my name gives away my Irish roots. Growing up was quite an adventure—I lived in Ireland and England before my family eventually moved to Chicago and then Dallas. My path led me to The University of Texas at Austin, where I earned a BBA in Finance with a minor in Marketing from the McCombs School of Business (Hook 'em Horns!). For the past five years, I’ve called Austin home, and I can confidently say it’s the best place to be.
My journey into tech sales began during a year-long internship as a Business Analyst in a PreSales program. That experience was transformational, revealing that sales, especially in the tech space, was the career I wanted to pursue.
What kind of training and development opportunities have you had at Dell?
Dell has made an incredible investment in my development. I am a proud graduate of the Dell Technologies Presales Academy (DTPA), an intensive 13-week program designed to transform early-career professionals into presales experts. The training was thorough, covering everything from Dell storage solutions and PowerEdge servers to switches, along with essential skills like running sales campaigns and delivering impactful technical presentations. Beyond DTPA, I’ve also completed Dell’s Executive Briefing Center Discussion Leader training, which equips me to facilitate high-level customer discussions during executive briefings. Additionally, I’ve had the privilege of presenting AI training sessions to local high school students through Global Presales Women in Action and leading case competitions with university students via STEM Aspire. Dell consistently provides opportunities to grow and make a difference every step of the way.
What is the NGSA? How does it set up its members for successful careers?
The Next Gen Sales Academy (NGSA) is designed to transform early-career professionals into trusted customer advisors. The program provides a deep understanding of Dell’s comprehensive portfolio and includes rotations through various market segments. For my part, I’ve been supporting Medium Business US Central as a Solution Architect, covering states like Indiana, Illinois, and Kansas. NGSA equips you to expertly guide customers through every phase of the DADD process (Discover, Analyze, Design, Defend). It teaches you how to identify pain points, understand business needs, and deliver tailored technical solutions that not only enhance IT operations but also achieve significant cost savings. The focus isn’t just on selling; it’s about building strong, strategic partnerships.
Describe what it's like to work in your role.
I work as the technical counterpart to three Sales Representatives and three Account Executives, and no two days are the same. One moment, I’m deep into the technical specifics of speeds and feeds; the next, I’m using sizing tools to configure storage, memory, networking, and power supplies tailored to a customer’s unique needs.
What I enjoy most is the demonstration aspect of my role. I showcase technical features, lead demos of management and monitoring tools, and help customers envision what it’s like to manage our hardware. Every day, I have the opportunity to simplify complex technology and highlight the real value of our infrastructure solutions. It’s a blend of technical problem-solving, relationship-building, and delivering business value – and there’s never a dull moment!
Play to your strengths and be authentically yourself. I love getting to know my customers and understanding their business challenges, using my business background.
Caoimhe F.
Associate Systems Engineer I
What are your career aspirations and how does Dell support them?
This August, I’m thrilled to be transitioning to Dell Federal as a Federal Field Channel Solution Architect, where I’ll collaborate with our federal partners to deliver Dell infrastructure solutions. It’s the ideal next step in my career. Looking ahead, my long-term goal is to become a leader at Dell, aiming for a director-level position in either presales or sales. I’m passionate about giving back to early-career professionals in programs like DTPA or NGSA, just as my mentors have guided and supported me. Most importantly, I aspire to drive meaningful change by delivering solutions that create real value and contribute to advancing human progress. Dell’s emphasis on internal mobility and leadership development makes these aspirations feel within reach. The company’s genuine investment in personal and professional growth truly supports every step of my career path.
What tips do you have for someone looking to start or grow their career in this area at Dell?
First, don’t let your academic background hold you back. I came from a finance and marketing background, but with the right attitude and a willingness to learn, anyone can develop the technical skills needed to excel. The key is to adopt a growth mindset. Second, it’s completely fine not to have all the answers right away. What matters most is being honest with customers and committing to finding solutions. Don’t hesitate to ask questions—there’s no such thing as a “dumb” question, and you’ll only get smarter from asking. Lastly, play to your strengths and stay true to who you are. I love connecting with customers, understanding their unique business challenges, and leveraging my business background to help solve them. Stay curious, stay engaged, and always remember that great sales start with building strong relationships.
Can you share a fun or interesting fact about yourself that your colleagues might not know?
Outside of work, I am passionate about travel and adventure! I've had the incredible opportunity to explore 35 countries across five continents, including memorable backpacking trips through Southeast Asia and Europe. Some of my most thrilling adventures include skydiving, riding camels through Morocco's Sahara Desert, paragliding over the Swiss Alps, going on a safari in Kenya, and bathing elephants in Thailand. Each trip has taught me valuable lessons about adaptability and connecting with people from different cultures—skills that seamlessly carry over to building meaningful customer relationships.
Why did you choose to work for Dell?
Dell's comprehensive portfolio was a huge draw - we offer solutions across all three tiers of the data center, which gives me an incredible breadth of learning and expertise. As someone who wanted to truly understand enterprise infrastructure, Dell provides unmatched exposure. Plus, Dell's reputation speaks for itself. Having gone to The University of Texas, I saw Dell's presence everywhere in Austin. Working for a world-renowned brand that's also a hometown company felt like the perfect fit. Dell combines global reach with local roots and innovation with stability - exactly what I was looking for in launching my career.
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