Suzanne Ricci is a trailblazing entrepreneur and career success strategist with over two decades of experience in the technology and education sectors. As the Founder and Chief Success Officer of Computer Coach Training Center, she has empowered thousands of individuals to achieve their career goals through personalized training, strategic career planning, and certification programs tailored to the evolving demands of the tech industry.

Her journey began in 2000 as a web designer, and she quickly rose to become a respected leader in IT education, holding over 25 technical and business certifications. In 2002, Suzanne founded the LaSalle Computer Learning Center, which she later sold to a private equity firm focused on EDTech. In 2017, she launched Computer Coach, a dynamic training center offering hands-on learning and career services that bridge the gap between education and employment.

Suzanne is a COVID-19 Hero of Tampa Bay, the inaugural Tampa Tech Bridge Builder, and an Inno on Fire recipient for her impactful work with HireUp Florida. Her leadership and advocacy have made her a sought-after speaker at major conferences, including:

• InfoSec World – where she presented “Degrees Optional: Thriving in Cybersecurity Without Traditional Credentials”
• ISC2 Events – delivering sessions on personal branding, LinkedIn for job seekers, and career strategy
• Tech Success Network Podcast – where she shares expert insights on tech careers, emerging trends, and success strategies

Suzanne is also a best-selling author, known for her transformative book:

• Luck Is Not a Strategy – a hands-on career planning guide that walks readers through a tiered approach to defining and achieving career success. It offers actionable steps for navigating setbacks, refining goals, and unlocking new opportunities.

Her motto, “You have to read if you want to lead,” reflects her commitment to lifelong learning and leadership development. Suzanne continues to inspire professionals through her writing, speaking, and coaching, helping them thrive in an ever-changing digital landscape.

Organizations Suzanne Recommended

1. VirtualBox/VMware: Virtualization platforms for creating controlled lab environments to practice with multiple operating systems.
2. AWS/Azure/Google Cloud: Major cloud service providers offering free tiers for hands-on cloud computing experience.
3. Kaggle: Data science competition platform featuring challenges like the beginner-friendly Titanic survival prediction.
4. TryHackMe: Cybersecurity learning platform offering Capture the Flag events and structured security challenges.
5. Hack the Box: Penetration testing platform providing hands-on cybersecurity practice through vulnerable machines and challenges.
6. PicoCTF: Beginner-friendly cybersecurity competition platform offering educational Capture the Flag challenges.
7. FieldNation: Freelance platform connecting IT professionals with businesses needing technical services and quick fixes.
8. GitHub: Code repository platform where you can contribute to open source projects marked "Good First Issue" or "Help Wanted."
9. Forage: Career development platform offering free virtual job simulators and internship experiences from real companies.
10. Vista Equity Partners: Private equity firm offering virtual job simulation experiences through the Forage platform.
11. Pandas/Scikit-learn/Apache Superset: Open source software projects that welcome newcomer contributions for data science and analytics experience.

Add'l Resources/Recommendations

1. Watch this one-hour 'How to Leverage ChatGPT/AI Tools for Job Search' - https://www.apexsystems.com/event/career-readiness/how-job-seekers-can-use-ai-tools-chatgpt
2. How to Put Together Your 'Tell me about yourself' elevator pitch - https://www.apexsystems.com/event/career-readiness/pitch-perfect-mastering-art-self-introduction