From Proper Football to Databases with Jess Pomfret

In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we reconnect with Jess Pomfret, a PowerShell and SQL Server powerhouse, LinkedIn Learning instructor, and community advocate. From her early days in England to becoming a respected speaker and consultant, Jess shares her journey into tech, her passion for automation, and the importance of mentorship, curiosity, and community. Key topics in this episode include:

• Jess’s transition from footballer to DBA – How a soccer scholarship led her to a tech career in the U.S.
• The power of PowerShell and DBA Tools – How Jess leverages PowerShell to automate SQL Server tasks and save time.
• Finding a community in SQL and PowerShell – Jess reflects on how welcoming both communities are and the impact they’ve had on her career.
• Career growth through speaking and mentoring – Encouraging others to speak, contribute, and grow through conferences and collaboration.
• Working with Data Masterminds – The benefits of working in a high-level consulting team and tips for managing multiple clients and context switching.
• LinkedIn Learning and teaching at scale – Behind the scenes of her professional training content and what it’s like filming for LinkedIn Learning.

Jess also shares her favorite DBA Tools command, productivity tips for conferences, and the story behind her podcast Finding Data Friends, which highlights voices in the data world.   Bio and links: Jess Pomfret is a Data Platform Engineer and a Dual Microsoft MVP. She started working with SQL Server in 2011, and enjoys the problem-solving aspects of automating processes with PowerShell. She also enjoys contributing to dbatools and dbachecks, two open source PowerShell modules that aid DBAs with automating the management of SQL Server instances. She has also contributed to the SqlServerDsc module, adding several new resources to use when configuring your SQL Servers. She grew up in the South West of England and outside of her DBA life enjoys Crossfit, cycling and watching proper football. 

• Connect with Jess on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpomfret and Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jpomfret.co.uk
• Watch Finding Data Friends on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@findingdatafriends/videos
• Check out her LinkedIn Learning courses: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/jess-pomfret
• Explore DBA Tools at dbatools.io
• Join PowerShell Wednesdays at 2 PM EST on https://discord.gg/pdq
• The PowerShell Podcast: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast
• The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/L4zABO526bM