Describe your career, your platform, or what makes you you?
Zigzag is how I would describe my career. Broad experiences seemingly disconnected led me to a career in disruption, disruptive technologies, startups, and innovation. This zigzagging in my career is what has shaped me. Experiences in so many different areas and all around the globe opened my eyes to what’s possible. That is what makes me, “me”. Believing anything is possible, being unstoppable, facing adversity head-on, and not paying attention to the doubters, the naysayers, the inhibitors. Not an easy task, but learning to let go, run it off, ski it off, hike it off, and building mental strength have helped me through so many challenges.
Do you have any habits or disciplines that you’ve developed that helps keep you motivated?
My top three habits to keep me motivated:
1. Writing every morning,, (and yes, I slip on this occasionally) is my outlet, writing and meditating in the morning by a fire or a lit candle calms my mind before the day starts. My day starts at 5 am typically. It’s my body clock, even if I go to sleep at 3 am I am up by 5 am. I am an outdoors nut, hiking, skiing, walks, anything outdoors helps calm my monkey brain and keeps me motivated. But loving my work, surrounding myself with strong, creative, and intelligent people also keeps me motivated.
2. Other motivations: Staying focused on people, purpose, and what I can do to help make someone else’s life a little brighter or less scary or more directed toward what they want. Holding planks for 20 seconds longer when I think I can’t hold them any longer When people tell me that won’t work… highly motivates me to make it work! Or I can’t do something because of experience, or it’s too hard… also very motivated to figure it out and prove to myself that I can do it.
3. Also, learning when it’s time to let go and move on… those experiences motivate me toward a better future experience and more awareness of what I want in life.
What are you most proud of in your personal life and in your career?
My family (as cliche as that sounds) it’s the fuel of life. I’ve been very fortunate to have had great experiences to shape my career and life. Getting funding as a co-founder of a startup when no women were really getting funding then moving on to a high tech company and joining Pre-IPO and leading the revenue growth teams to successful double-digit growth contributing to one of the most successful IPOs of its time, I am very proud of those days.
We know from data that no one advances completely on their own. Relationships are often the difference between getting noticed and promoted and getting stuck. How do you identify key individuals with whom you need to build strategic relationships? Has UPWARD been a platform to helping you build these necessary relationships?
All the networks that I involve myself in that bring strong women and key mentors and smart people together have been instrumental in my career and life.
What advice have you received that has helped drive you to where you are today? If you’re comfortable, please share where this advice came from.
Let it go. People make mistakes, don’t dwell on the mistakes, learn from them, and move forward.
What advice (2-3 things) would you share with others who have similar goals or is on a similar path as you?
Let it go. People make mistakes, don’t dwell on the mistakes, learn from them, and move forward.
Do you have a favorite inspirational/motivational quote that you’d like to share?
100% is possible 100% of the time!
When you’re not in “work mode”, attending calls/meetings, what would we find you doing?
Hiking, doing anything outdoors, playing tennis or pickleball or traveling, and finding quiet time to read or play guitar and piano, writing.
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