> trained as a mechanical engineer in my career and spent the last 20 years in business (finance, strategy and operations) If you haven't developed an allergy

> trained as a mechanical engineer in my career and spent the last 20 years in business (finance, strategy and operations) If you haven't developed an allergy to this background, and you're interested in the business process side of IT, I'd recommend building off of what you already know. Domain experience is invaluable and far too rare in technical roles. This has been my own path. I knew just enough about computers to know that tools existed to eliminate tedium from my workday, so that's where I started. I didn't have to step away from my career at all, so it was very low risk if it didn't work out or I discovered I hated it. It did work out and I discovered I enjoyed the process. Importantly, I discovered that the grind of writing actual software or doing standard IT work doesn't agree with me, rather it's the problem identification and solving process. So, now I'm straddling the fence between the IT person who does lots of automation work, and the process improvement person who tries to make the business run smoother and everyone's workdays better. It's a rewarding and appreciated role, and one where age (also in my 40's) is a real benefit.