Explore the career journey of Maoni Stephens, the .NET Garbage Collection (GC) architect at Microsoft, in this 45-minute video interview. Gain insights into building a successful career in software architecture, including finding your passion, leveraging mentorship, developing crucial skills like debugging, and transitioning from individual contributor to team leader. Learn about Stephens' experiences automating her work, adapting to team dynamics, and cultivating persistence and confidence. Discover the importance of continuous learning, soft skills development, and effective communication in advancing your tech career. Understand how to identify and make the most of career-changing opportunities, from discovering computers post-college to utilizing IRC in the 90s for professional growth.