For Elizabeth “Zee” Dries, problem-solving isn’t just a part of her job, it’s a big part of who she is.
From her early days as Brado’s office manager to now leading the way in IT, her story is one of curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to take risks. As she puts it, “I didn’t have the experience. I just had the energy and the will to figure it out.” And has she ever.
When Zee first joined Brado nearly nine years ago, IT wasn’t even on her radar. But her knack for troubleshooting, a natural curiosity about how things worked, and her reputation for being able to fix just about anything, didn’t go unnoticed. So, when a colleague suggested she consider switching to technology, she didn’t hesitate. “It was a risk,” she admits. “But I’m happy I took it.”
That leap of faith turned into a new career built on adaptability and growth. And Brado has been all the better for it. For seven years now, Zee has been at the forefront of Brado’s IT evolution. From in-person research and cloud-based systems to everyday troubleshooting and future-focused solutions. Through it all, she’s leaned into a mindset of approaching challenges with fresh eyes. “I try to come in with a beginner’s mindset,” she says. “Things change so much, and that perspective keeps me open to new ways of solving problems.”
But Zee’s story isn’t just all about technology. There’s something else that’s even more important to her. And that’s trust. From the very beginning, Zee has valued the confidence Brado placed in her when she took on her originally unfamiliar role. In turn, she’s built a reputation as someone colleagues can truly count on. “Trustworthiness is the biggest one for me,” she says of Brado’s values. “It’s about showing up, doing what you promise, and being yourself. That’s what everything relies on.”
“It’s about showing up, doing what
you promise, and being yourself.”
Outside of work, Zee’s life is equally as full. She’s a devoted mom and a classically trained musician with a performance degree in cello. That love of music still runs deep and she smiles when recounting how her daughter would flip around in rhythm to the music when she was practicing while pregnant.
Zee also knows the importance of balance. After years of being unable to disconnect from work, she’s developed her own process for stepping away: shutting down her computer, going for a walk, practicing meditation and reconnecting with her daughter. “It’s about reestablishing what life is outside of work,” she says. “So, I can do the things I want to do.”
She’s also quick to laugh at her own quirks and boasts a seriously impressive self-deprecating sense of humor. Something you’ll learn if you ask her about her enormous back tattoo or the year she spent wearing a cape as an old-school goth kid.
But beneath it all is an understated, yet enviable, grounded clarity. If there’s one lesson she’s learned the hard way, it’s patience. “My instinct is always to move fast,” she says. “But slowing down, taking your time, that’s when the best decisions happen.”
Ask her what superhero she’d want as a best friend, and she doesn’t hesitate. It’s Superman. But not for the reasons you might think. While others would covet his speed or strength, what Zee loves most is his real-world impact, recounting how a Superman radio show once helped expose and undermine the KKK. “It blows my mind how a fictional character could change the way people thought about something so serious,” she says. “That’s the power of ideas.”
At Brado, Zee is proof of that same power. She’s taken risks, embraced challenges, and found ways to turn curiosity into impact. And through it all, she’s remained her authentic, open and trustworthy self, with a little help from her personal motto, “Don’t talk about it, just be about it.”
And with Zee, you know she always will.
