Richard studied Business Administration with a concentration in Information Systems at Colorado State University. He began gaining professional experience through a technology internship in Denver before moving into a Business Technology Analyst role after graduation.

His career has since developed around the connection between technology and business operations. Today, Richard works as a Business Technology Specialist in Phoenix. His work includes software implementation, workflow improvement, process development and technology support. He is particularly interested in artificial intelligence and automation, but approaches new technology with a practical question: does it actually make work better for the people using it?

Jillian studied Marketing at San Diego State University. She began her career in marketing while completing her degree, gaining experience with social media, research, communications, and event preparation.

After graduation, she moved into marketing coordination before expanding her responsibilities in Phoenix. Today, her work combines marketing campaigns, vendor relationships, scheduling and event planning. She has developed a particular interest in turning early ideas into organised experiences that people can actually see and enjoy.

Together, Richard and Jillian Corbett represent two increasingly connected sides of modern business. Richard focuses on systems and efficiency. Jillian focuses on communication and experience. Both believe strong work starts with understanding people, adapting when circumstances change, and continuing to learn.

Where did your professional interests begin?

Richard: Mine started with computers before I really understood that there was a career behind it. In high school, I liked building computers, learning different software, and figuring out why something wasn’t working.

At Colorado State University, I studied Business Administration with a concentration in Information Systems. That helped me realise I did not necessarily want to sit on the purely technical side. I was more interested in what technology could do for an organisation and the people working there.

Jillian: I was always more interested in communication and organising things. In school, I enjoyed helping with activities and events. There was something satisfying about starting with an idea and then figuring out all the pieces required to make it happen.

I studied Marketing at San Diego State University, and that gave me a much broader understanding of marketing, communications, consumer behaviour, branding and events.

Richard, what did your first technology role teach you?

Richard: I had a technology internship in Denver in 2020. Some of the work was pretty basic. I helped employees with technology problems, software updates, company information, and internal projects.

It was useful because I got to see technology from the employee’s perspective. Something that seems minor to someone managing a system can be a major interruption for someone trying to do their job.

After university, I became a Business Technology Analyst. That moved me further into process analysis, software support, documentation, and helping employees adopt new systems.

Jillian, how did you make the transition from studying marketing to working in it?

Jillian: My first professional experience was an internship with an events and communications company in the San Diego area. I worked on social media content, research, promotional materials, scheduling, and event preparation.

I liked that no two days were exactly the same. An event might look effortless to someone attending it, but behind it could be dozens of conversations, deadlines, and small decisions.

After graduating, I became a Marketing Coordinator. That gave me more responsibility for campaigns, vendors, and events. It confirmed that I liked work where creativity and organisation had to exist together.

How did moving to Phoenix affect your careers?

Richard: It required both of us to become comfortable with being new again. I moved into a Business Technology Specialist position and started working on software implementation, workflows, technology support and process development.

Changing cities also meant learning a new organisation and how different teams operated. You cannot assume that a process that worked somewhere else should simply be copied.

Jillian: I had a similar experience. My role in Phoenix expanded the event side of my work. I coordinate vendors, schedules, and campaigns while helping turn an idea into an actual experience.

Moving was a good reminder that skills transfer, but context matters. You still have to listen and learn how a new environment works.

Richard, where does AI fit into your view of business technology?

Richard: I am interested in AI and automation because there are still so many repetitive tasks in ordinary workplaces.

At the same time, I do not think adding AI automatically improves a process. If the original process is confusing, automating it can just make a confusing process happen faster.

I prefer starting with the problem. What is taking too long? Where are people repeating work? Where does information get lost? Then you can decide whether technology is actually the answer.

Jillian, has technology changed how you think about marketing and events?

Jillian: Definitely, especially behind the scenes. Technology can make scheduling, communication, and organisation much easier.

But events have also taught me that efficiency isn’t the whole experience. People remember whether they felt welcomed, whether things ran smoothly, and whether an event felt thoughtful.

A spreadsheet can tell you that every vendor arrived on time. It cannot completely tell you how the room felt.

What have your different careers taught you about each other’s work?

Jillian: Richard has probably made me more interested in systems. If something becomes unnecessarily complicated, he immediately wants to know why there are six steps when there could be three.

Richard: Jillian has made me think more about what happens after a system technically works. You can build something efficient, but people still have to understand it and want to use it.

That is probably where our careers overlap most. Both ultimately involve designing something around people.

What does leadership look like at this stage of your careers?

Richard: I think it starts with being dependable. You do not need a senior title to notice a problem, ask a useful question, or make a process easier for somebody else.

Jillian: I would add staying calm when plans change. Events teach you that very quickly. Something will change, someone will be late, or a plan will need to be adjusted. Leadership can be as simple as helping everyone focus on the next useful decision instead of the problem that has already happened.

What are you both hoping to keep developing professionally?

Richard: I want to keep learning about AI, automation, and how organisations can use technology without making work unnecessarily complicated.

Jillian: I want to keep developing the combination of marketing and events. I enjoy the creative side, but I also like the planning and coordination required to bring an idea to life.

Richard: For both of us, I think the goal is to stay curious. Our careers will probably look different in another five or ten years. That is part of what makes this stage interesting.

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