Liana Scarratt didn’t set out to work in tech. With a background in psychology and biology, she initially imagined a different path, but after graduation, she felt eager to enter the workforce.
She took a job as a call center representative at a small credit union, a decision that ultimately introduced her to the world of IT. It set her on a path she never expected but quickly came to love, leading to her dual role today as consulting leader for the East Services Group and leading Americas transformation consulting at Broadcom. Her work includes managing the Jumpstart Workshop service and helping customers get started with VMware Cloud Foundation and helping our customers to ensure that people and processes go hand-in-hand with technology.
A career built on curiosity
Working at the credit union, Liana found herself increasingly drawn to the company’s internal IT operations.
“I was managing trouble tickets from employees and started asking more questions to our PC techs and server admins,” Liana recalled. “Eventually, the server admin said, ‘Why don’t you come and do some work with us? See if you like this side of technology.’”
That was the turning point.
She began working in the data center, building white-box servers from the ground up, installing operating systems, and managing enterprise solutions, like active directory, disaster recovery, etc.
Everyone had to handle everything in such a small IT shop, which gave Liana a deep, hands-on understanding of IT infrastructure.
“I wish I had known earlier that IT wasn’t just programming,” she said. “I thought anything related to computers was just programming, and I’m not a developer. But on the infrastructure side, I absolutely love that work.”
Building something that lasts
Eager to keep learning, Liana continued to take on roles that blended hands-on technical work with consulting, expanding her expertise in IT strategy and infrastructure. That combination led her to Broadcom, where she helped customers bridge the gap between technology and business needs—an approach that remains central to her work today, 25 years later.
One of her most rewarding experiences was helping create a new consulting service in her early years with the company.
At the time, the company focused primarily on install-and-configure services, but Liana’s team saw an opportunity to help customers connect technology to broader business goals.
She and a small group of colleagues developed a repeatable framework to help customers maximize the value of their technology investments. They built customer examples, created templates, and crafted a package that made it easier for customers to see success.
“That was just a blast,” Liana recalled.
Some of the service’s methodologies still live on today, with elements being leveraged in Jumpstart Workshop, one of the programs she now helps oversee.
Helping customers make the most of their technology
In her current role, Liana sees a common challenge among customers: they purchase technology but struggle to adopt it effectively.
“Customers tell us they’re too busy fighting fires to migrate or upgrade their environments. But if they used our tools and features, all of a sudden, those fires would go away,” she said.
Liana and her team help customers pause, assess their IT environment, and implement better workflows, freeing up their time for important engineering and architectural discussions.
The power of mentorship and self-advocacy
Liana credits much of her early success to two mentors who recognized her curiosity and guided her through the complexities of IT.
“They had patience. They were willing to share information with me and walk me through things from the very beginning,” she said. “Back then, you didn’t have as many women in this field. But they recognized that I wanted to learn this, and so they taught me.”
Later in her career, her boss encouraged her to seek mentorship at a higher level.
“He suggested I start talking to other people in the company, learning more about the business, and connecting with mentors outside my direct team. That was invaluable.”
Another mentor, a female sales leader, gave her a key piece of advice: women often downplay their accomplishments.
“We think it’s bragging, but if we don’t share our successes, no one will know about them,’” Liana recalled.
Her advice to women in tech today? Advocate for yourself.
“When someone asks what you’re working on, that’s your opportunity to describe your achievements. In one-on-ones with your boss, highlight your successes and the challenges you’ve overcome. Share your work in team meetings or town halls.”
Those moments of visibility matter, she said.
Staying open to what’s next
Liana brings the same energy and open mindset to her life outside of work, spending time with her husband, hiking, paddle boarding with her rescue dog, and fostering puppies. Her love for animals and the outdoors reflects the same curiosity that has guided her throughout her career: always exploring and always open to what comes next.
Looking back, Liana reflected that her path wasn’t meticulously planned. It’s been shaped by saying yes to opportunities, even when they felt new and scary.
“Every job I took added new and diverse skills which allowed me to take advantage of opportunities and advance my career. While I didn’t consciously plan my path quite that way, I wouldn’t change a thing.,” Liana said.
“Opportunity is not always going to come on your schedule. You hear a lot about how you need to look for opportunities or you need to ask for them. But what I’m learning is that you also have to accept opportunities when they come.”
Learn more
In honor of International Women’s Month, we are sharing the stories of several women making an impact in tech and IT. Check out our features on others who are creating a legacy at Broadcom, like Amy Agnew.
To learn more about Jumpstart Workshops, click here to read our latest ebook.
