MY STORY
BLURRING THE LINES
As an undergrad, I had many interests and felt torn about which path to pursue. Do I focus on psychology or business for my major? I felt like I needed to choose between one or the other because that’s how our school systems work and I wanted to find a job. By choosing both I stayed true to my interests and learned how empathy creates better leaders.
MAKING MISTAKES
I've always had a hard time making mistakes. I feel like I’m letting people down, including myself. In my first job out of school at Accenture, I was out of my element in a software-centric role. I didn’t know the first thing about coding so I struggled at first. Eventually, I learned that growth and comfort can't coexist, and I began to embrace the self doubt and inevitable mistakes that are part of the learning process.
INVENTING NEW WAYS
After consulting, I transitioned to advertising. My background was in technology, where I built systems, improved processes and created methodologies. The agency believed that “process destroys creativity." I often felt like an outsider, but stayed true to my strengths and proved how process can enhance creativity and lead to award-winning work.
BRINGING MY OWN STYLE
When I moved to Seattle for a new role, everyone said if you want to fit in and be taken seriously in this culture “you better get some Birkenstocks and a Patagonia hoodie.” I’m more of a heels and cashmere cardigan kind of leader. By expressing my personal style while delivering results, I earned the respect of my colleagues and learned to embrace originality.
WORKING MY WAY
I wanted to grow my career at Microsoft while living in New York. But when I asked about career development opportunities, I was told “All roads lead to Redmond." It seemed odd to me that one of the world’s most advanced companies would have such a limited way to look at business growth and leadership. So I created a business case for keeping employees in the communities they loved.
SPEAKING MY MIND
When I pursued my Masters in Educational Policy and Management, I was the only business major at Harvard's School of Education. My unique perspective on how to solve educational challenges was contested by my peers. I learned how alienating it can feel when you see things differently, but I shared my dissenting point of view despite my nerves. In the process, I became a better business leader because I learned how to align different perspectives.
LETTING GO
After building much of my career—and identity—as a female leader in tech, change meant a loss of certainty and control. Facebook was the culmination of everything I had worked for in my life, but something was missing. I wasn't fulfilled. It was either stay in what many would consider a dream job, or pursue a more fulfilling yet uncertain path. I let go of who I thought I had to be and ended up choosing work that matters.
