Career
Career Advice from 5 Powerful Silicon Valley Women
5 impressive female leaders in the tech world give their ceiling-shattering advice.
Ursula Burns
Ursula Burns (left)
“You have to have a very strong opinion with some facts and data to stand it up, you have to prove that you are right more times than you are wrong, and then you better walk into the room with something to say because otherwise you don’t really add a whole lot of value to the group. So if you are going to be in the group, I want you to actually come in … and have an opinion. And I don’t mean just opinion like, ‘I like blue or I don’t like blue.’ This is, ‘We have this problem. Here is my take on the problem, here’s what I’ve learned. My experience is telling me this and this is how I would approach it.’” – Ursula Burns
Ursula’s story is a true American dream story. Burns was raised by a single mother in the Baruch Houses, a New York city housing project. Both of her parents were Panamanian immigrants. Burns worked her way up from a lowly intern at Xerox, to executive assistant, and now serves as Chairwoman and CEO of Xerox. Incredible, right? As such, she is the first African-American woman CEO to head a Fortune 500 company. She is also the first woman to succeed another woman as head of a Fortune 500 company, having succeeded Anne Mulcahy as CEO of Xerox. She serves on numerous professional and community boards, and is a mentor to many. In 2014, Forbes rated her the 22nd most powerful woman in the world. Rightly so!
Jodi Thil
Men are so annoying in the office. They’re very discriminating against women and would only lean towards other men in helping with bigger projects.
Valerie Fritz
I’ve been with companies that only looked at men as the only way to boost their company’s income. I had to resign because I knew I was in the wrong place.
Monique Malick
There are companies who support women no matter what. You just have to find the right company that fits all your ideals. I know that this can be hard because work is work and career is career, but when you’re not in the right place, you won’t bloom because your roots won’t reach deep and you won’t be as strong. Choose the perfect place for you to be “planted”. Women are strong and even back in the days, we’ve always been capable of so many things.
Laronda Walker
Yep, you can’t grow with just any company. It has to be THE company.
Linda Bowman
Yes! Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. It’s one of the reasons why you should DO IT.
Bonnie Bailey
Women are great beings. We’re very independent and we’re really motivated people.
Louise Summer
I super adore audible. Anyway, great recos! Definitely going to check them out ASAP.
Jenni Morgan
Don’t be afraid to take risks. Sometimes, it’s the risk you take that will take you in higher places!
Roze Carloze
If you happen to be with a company that doesn’t support women in the upper management, start questioning about where you are.
Jean Eide
If you want to be as powerful as them, you have no choice but to let go of your fears and just embrace the thrill.?
Karen Cooper
In life, you can’t be ready. I also think that if it doesn’t scare you, it won’t help you grow. Life is all about making big decisions and making crazy ones that are out of your comfort zone. If you’re always living by the rules and all you do is do whatever everyone expects you to do, you are being mediocre. You will never stand out and you will never achieve anything beyond your dreams. Not to offend anyone but that’s the truth. We have to do more in order to achieve more.
Louise Summer
I totally agree with you. Getting out of your comfort zone is probably the best thing that you can do.