Debra Eskinazi Stockdale

Senior Technical Writer

Treasure Data

We offer a customer data platform that helps businesses market to its clients. I teach people how to use our products.

I enjoy helping people be successful and when I create great documentation they can more easily accomplish their tasks. I also really enjoy collaborating with stakeholders at all levels of industry.

My average day consists of: -evaluating tickets (these provide some idea of what we need to write about) -meeting with engineers and project managers (to work on upcoming projects or to interview them about their work) -improving our documentation by creating new documents, revising old ones, or streamlining our documentation set.

I earned a degree in political science and comparative religions. I didn't know I would end up as a technical writer. I always had a knack for technology, loved teaching people, and was a skilled writer. It took me a long time to finish college and I had a few jobs with nonprofits after I graduated. I became unemployed after the market crashed in 2008 and went to work as a clerk for the local government. I held lots of different jobs, but I felt I wasn't really working to my potential. I was fortunate that many of the jobs I held included some element of writing. The ones in the last ten years were most instrumental in forging my career as a technical writer. - associate employee trainer for the government: In this job I created technical support documentation for software programs and also wrote summaries for classes. There I also had the opportunity to work with business analysts and software developers to create a new product for employees. It was then that discovered I really liked this type of collaborative work with engineers and project managers. -magazine editor: After I left the gov't job and had a second baby (at 39). I was looking for a job that would permit me more flexibility and allow me to grow. I started freelancing at a local newspaper and soon I became the editor for the publication's two weekly lifestyles magazines. I took a pay cut for this opportunity, but felt that the benefits would far exceed any financial loss. In this role, I determined our content strategy and oversaw a team of writers and photographers. Before each issue went to print, I prepared each story for layout by editing and finding art for each article, then I worked with professional designers and other staff to ready the dummy (this is what we call the magazine and newspaper pages before they are ready to print). While I was working at this company, I was planning my next career and I began teaching myself about API documentation and learning a little about programming languages. I wanted to leverage my love of technology with the writing I did for the government. I also networked -- a lot! I met people who were seasoned in their career, asked questions, and also found people who were interested in helping me grow. After three years in this role. I left the company to freelance as a technical writer. My first gig was a bomb, but I was fortunate that some of the relationships I had fostered while networking had some opportunities to offer. I continued to pursue my goal of becoming a technical writer that would focus on API documentation. I kept networking, interviewing, and volunteering with local professional organizations. Soon, I was invited for coffee by a woman who heard of me through the president one of the groups I had volunteered with. Three months later I started my job as a technical writer for Treasure Data. I've made great connections at work and fostered relationships with many different professionals. I've helped to break down silos between departments and have recently been working on revising how we deliver our API documentation -- a benefit to both internal and external stakeholders.

I enjoy the company I work at and I am constantly seeking to grow and improve my skills. Things can change and so can workplace opportunities-- it's important to remain flexible, so I'm driven to grow as an API technical writer, which I feel will secure a role for me at any company. I have two girls who I hope to model what it is to be successful while also emphasizing the importance of practicing self-care. I am really proud of my accomplishments and the determination it took to get me where I am today. Accountability is key.

I live on a small hobby farm with my partner and our two daughters. I am a beekeeper and a gardener. We are just getting ready to plant our spring garden and make a chicken coop to house 6-10 chickens. We do our best to live sustainably. I love crafts and textile arts. In addition to being the resident techie at home setting up our network system, I also like to knit, crochet, paint, refinish furniture, and whatever else I want to try my hand at. I have some body pain and have to balance my self-care with my family and my projects. It's not always easy and it's really important to listen to ourselves and give our bodies and minds the right care and attention.

"At the end of the day we are accountable to ourselves - our success is a result of what we do." - Catherine Pulsifer