Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
What is your name and title?
Anna Currin, Manager of Employee and Community Impact at Okta for Good.
Briefly (1-2 sentences) describe your current role.
I manage Okta for Good’s employee and community impact program, leveraging our employees’ resources for good. I also build regional partnership with community partners.
How did you get here? Please share any quick stories from past work experiences.
Someone once told me that building a career is more like a jungle gym than a ladder, and that has really rung true for me. I explored many career paths after school (including teaching abroad, advertising sales, and recruiting) and finally landed at Salesforce – where I was first introduced to social impact when a friend convinced me to come along for a group volunteer event. From there, I became enthralled with the idea that I could work closely with nonprofits and explore areas I was passionate about. I like to connect others to similar experiences.
In your opinion, what’s the #1 decision or move you’ve made that has helped advance your career?
Joining Erin Baudo Felter (VP, Social Impact) at Okta for Good. Erin had recently joined and recruited me as her #2. My task was to build out an employee impact program from scratch. This was an exciting and challenging move, as I’d previously worked on large teams managing programs at scale. I’m so glad I took this opportunity because I’ve learned and grown in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned this past year?
Meet people where they are. It’s been a TOUGH year and people are dealing with challenges that reach far beneath the surface of what anyone can see or know. At the same time, it’s a privilege and opportunity to be able to give back to important and pressing issues. I’ve found that Okta for Good is an outlet for many of our employees who want to channel their energy into something impactful, when so many other parts of their lives are limited or restrained.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
Ask questions, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. I spent several years feeling very timid because I was afraid to reveal I didn’t know the answers. I later discovered if you’re confused or don’t know the right source, many people likely feel the same way. And people love sharing their advice with others.
What is one thing companies can do, big or small, to help create an environment that advances women into leadership positions?
For one, have women in leadership positions. You can’t be what you can’t see, and having a woman in a leadership role will help facilitate conversations to get the right people in the room, and will also be a model for those outside to know it’s possible.
Is there a cause that is particularly close to you? If so, why this cause and how did you get involved?
San Francisco’s Family House will always have a special place in my heart. Family House is a “home away from home” for families whose children are undergoing cancer treatment at UCSF Benioff Children’s hospital. I first volunteered with them while at Salesforce, and have since partnered with them for many volunteer events at Okta. Our new hires even volunteer with them on their second day of work (pre-COVID-19) by playing games with siblings, serving breakfast, and cleaning the facility. It’s a wonderful nonprofit.
When did your company join Pledge 1%? What does your impact program mean to you?
Okta took the 1% pledge in 2016 by dedicating 1% of our most valuable resources – employee time, equity and product to charity. Okta for Good’s mission is to connect people, technology, and community; and Pledge 1% helps us fulfill that mission.
What do you like to do outside of the office? Any interesting (or unique) habits or interests?
I love exploring neighborhoods of San Francisco, eating with friends, and meeting new people. So it’s been…..tough as of late. These days, I enjoy watching true crime and taking my golden retriever Peggy to the beach.
Are you reading/listening to anything interesting at the moment? Please share your most recent favorite
book or podcast!
I’m a long time fan of Sam Harris’s Waking Up podcast, and he’s had a few interesting conversations with William
MacAskill, a prominent voice around Effective Altruism and a scientific approach to philanthropy. I highly recommend!
What’s been the one (or two!) things that have helped you navigate this past year? Any tips or tricks to dealing with remote work?
Don’t feel like you need to hide or muddle how you’re doing. My team has a daily check in which is really helpful to keep a pulse on everyones well being. Once time my colleague Adam started the meeting and just lay down on the floor because he was “having a day.” We each copied him and did the same. What a refreshing moment to admit we don’t always have things figured out, and sometimes you just need to lie down.
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
What is your name and title?
Kelly Ireland, CEO & Founder at CBT (CB Technologies, Inc.).
Briefly (1-2 sentences) describe your current role.
I am the Founder and CEO of CBT, an award-winning Domain Expert Integrator with a roster of Fortune 50 clients. My role is to create an environment where both my employees and our customers thrive!
How did you get here? Please share any quick stories from past work experiences.
I have been involved in the IT industry since 1976 and have always described myself as a “techie”. I was an early participant in programming, attending IBM’s RPG II/III classes out of high school at a time when there were virtually no women in the industry. From the beginning of my career, I was customer-obsessed and always working to develop the best solutions for them.
I founded CBT in 2001 to leverage all the things I’d learned from two decades’ work implementing corporate enterprise solutions. I knew I could make a difference – and that I’d apply the best practices not just in technology, but in managing people. So, I decided to create a company that would offer employees the optimal work-life balance, knowing that they would in turn create exceptional experiences for our customers.
I launched CBT from the spare bedroom of my small home. It was an extremely modest start. I was a single mom starting a business in the highly male-dominant technology industry, but I had a secret weapon for success – put employees first.
I had always had the feeling that there was a better way. So, I risked everything to create a business based on two simple principles:
- Cater to your customers and make them feel special (because they are)
- Appreciate your employees and they will appreciate you, your customers, and your business
And, my gamble paid off!
In your opinion, what’s the #1 decision or move you’ve made that has helped advance your career?
Being raised by a teacher and a coach, collaboration and teamwork are key principles that are at the forefront of how I have advanced my career. They are also a core part of the DNA of CBT. Great things in business are never accomplished by individuals, but by teams through collaboration.
The key to my success has been to run CBT with a human touch. Although we are a tech company, we always recognize that people come first. This is a radically different approach to how most IT Solution Providers and Value Added Resellers do business, and it is the reason that the industry has recognized us for carving out an entirely new category – Domaine Expert Integrator. We are really proud to be in a league of our own, and we think deservedly so.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned this past year?
2020 strengthened our commitment to our internal family, knowing that a happy and healthy team will invigorate our partners’ and customers’ innovation. That’s why in 2021, we’re focused on continued evolution, acceleration, and growth based on the foundation we solidified in these challenging times. So while NOT a new lesson learned for us, this last year has served to edify our core CBT values and what makes us truly unique.
What’s the number one challenge you face as a woman in your industry?
Unfortunately, tech still has a “perception problem”. The myopic image of the white male engineer, and frankly the executive as well, persists along with the mistaken bias that men are better suited in these roles.
It’s frustrating that change has been so slow and so hard-fought. Being a woman in tech is a challenge, but I love this industry and I love the people. I am also a lifelong competitive athlete, so when it comes to work I let my performance do the talking. I’ve also created an environment at CBT where people can bring their whole self to work, and our diversity numbers reflect that. For us, the differences are celebrated and our team is stronger for it.
Do you have any mentors? What does mentorship mean to you?
I’ve had numerous mentors throughout my life, both male and female, as well as personal and business related. I gleaned something from each of them, and it helped me become the leader that I am today.
For me, being a mentor is by definition affecting someone’s life – sometimes in profound ways like radically shaping a person’s career trajectory, and sometimes more subtle ways like providing a scholarship to attend a conference. My goal, in either case, is to add value to their professional (and hopefully personal) lives.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
I’ve heard it a hundred different ways – build your tribe, create a network, establish a peer group, etc., but what it all means is assemble a personal Board of Advisors. Be sure to take on high-profile assignments, and don’t be afraid to fail. Secondarily, but just as important, be honest and embed integrity in everything you do.
What is one thing companies can do, big or small, to help create an environment that advances women into leadership positions?
Companies can only attract diverse talent if women and minorities are in visible leadership positions. All other efforts will fail if women can’t visualize and believe there is a path to leadership positions.
What is one thing you hope to accomplish in the next year?
My personal company weathered 2020 quite well based on investing heavily in the previous years to research, develop and prove the feasibility of IoT solutions. With that progressing well, I want to put more focus on my workforce development philanthropy and launching a non-profit that connects industry to local/regional education systems to provide an avenue for gainful employment in underserved communities.
Is there a cause that is particularly close to you? If so, why this cause and how did you get involved?
I have always mentored young people and have been an active supporter of social and economic justice causes. Most recently, I began coaching, mentoring, and sponsoring students from the Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project in Bangalore, India. Shanti Bhavan educates children from the untouchable caste and supports their learning from preschool through college. Their unique mission and commitment to change is that each of their graduates in turn bring 100 people out of poverty.
Prior to COVID-19, I visited with the school and brought some of my CBT leadership team to India with me. We met the students, saw the villages that they came from, and had many in-depth conversations with the school’s founder as well as the faculty. We provided scholarships to students and helped them update their technology and computer lab.
My other philanthropies include serving as an advisor to various nonprofits including the Board of Directors for education non-profit GenerationYes, and the Board of Governors for Uplift Family Services at Hollygrove, an EMQ FamiliesFirst Agency.
When did your company join Pledge 1%? What does your impact program mean to you?
CBT joined Pledge 1% a year ago. We had been looking to strengthen our company’s impact program, and to make it more of a formal part of our culture. The Pledge 1% program helps us assess and track how we are doing as a company in putting people and the communities where we live and work first.
What do you like to do outside of the office? Any interesting (or unique) habits or interests?
When I am not working, you will find me and my family on the water! I am an international water ski racing champion and in recent years, I picked up powerboat racing. I participate as one of the few females in the APBA Formula 1 Lights racing circuit. I also enjoy mentoring and sponsoring young people in these sports.
Are you reading/listening to anything interesting at the moment? Please share your most recent favorite book or podcast!
I have to spend so much time online, on conference calls and reading about IoT and digital transformation that in my spare time I like to read historical fiction/non-fiction. I’ve been reading about a book a week over the last year but the latest one is taking a bit longer. It is Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett – an old classic that I had never read before.
What’s been the one (or two!) things that have helped you navigate this past year? Any tips or tricks to dealing with remote work?
CBT had an extremely smooth transition to remote work. For our customers, our Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Solutions such as Connected Worker have helped them to sustain profitability and keep their employees safe. Our remote training/mentorship solution has allowed teams to collaborate from all over the world. It utilizes tailored software combinations enabled on wearable devices, smartphones and tablets to provide an effective way for field workers to visualize, consume and communicate actionable information. It gives maintenance and operations teams the tools they need to assess operations performance so they can make critical decisions safely, in real time, and at the actual point of work. We hear from our customers that this has saved jobs, and more importantly, saved lives.
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
What is your name and title?
Samanta Perna, Project Engineer at GE Renewables.
Briefly (1-2 sentences) describe your current role.
I manage engineering aspects of Crudine Ridge Wind Farm project. This includes coordinating with internal and external design teams, construction contractors, and other stakeholders to ensure Wind Turbine and Interface with Balance of Plant (BoP) works are designed, constructed, and commissioned to a high standard.
How did you get here? Please share any quick stories from past work experiences.
I realized I needed to spend time thinking about and developing my personal vision and describing the key components to my ideal job a few years after I started my first job after graduating as a Chemical Engineer. At the time I worked in the oil and gas industry and one thing became clear to me – I wanted to be part of the Renewable Energy sector.
By that time, I had three years of experience and I understood I needed to go back to studying to get more knowledge in my new chosen discipline. This lead me to looking for courses specific to Renewables, and I searched for internship opportunities built into the program. I found one I liked in Australia and enrolled.
After a successful internship, I became part of the company full time. I learned a lot about solar energy, but also how start-up businesses work and build themselves up. It was a very rewarding and unexpected experience.
After a couple of years, I decided to change the focus of my career to technical expertise development. I applied for a few jobs throughout 2020, including a Project Engineer position for wind farms. Although at the time I was not sure my qualifications matched the skillset needed, my application was successful. I am now part of an organization that, I believe, will help me develop in the field of wind energy. Having switched sectors two times, I am grateful for the knowledge those experiences gave me and I am excited to start once again on a new path.
In your opinion, what’s the #1 decision or move you’ve made that has helped advance your career?
Earlier in my career I worked in Oil and Gas. I really enjoyed the technical aspects of my job, but I felt my contribution towards a clean energy transition was not being fulfilled. I chose to quit my job in Argentina and enrolled in a Masters Degree in Renewable Energy Systems at Monash University in Australia. I moved countries and completed the one-year course.
I chose this course because it had a specific unit for internships within your chosen field. I joined Energy Terrain as an intern for 6 weeks. This later became my entrance ticket to the Renewable Energy space through Solar Energy. I worked there for two years until Feb 2021. It has enabled me to better understand the energy market and the solar industry in Australia. I was exposed to a diverse range of professional experiences because I was part of a small company, which helped me develop a wide range of soft skills in project management, relationship building and even capital raising and finance.
Today, I am starting a new position at General Electrics in Wind Energy and I believe that my previous experience has given me the confidence and ability to face new challenges while enjoying the journey and always ask for help or guidance when I need it.
It all started with an industry change that was more aligned with my personal vision, and it has resulted in an exciting path I did not fully anticipate. Making career decisions based on your beliefs and personal values is, in my opinion, a crucial step towards developing lasting relationships within the Australian renewable energy industry.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned this past year?
It is really important to always try to understand the different contexts of others who are living the same situation as you. As an Argentinian citizen in Australia, I got to experience COVID-19 in two completely different ways. I saw the pandemic spread from different perspective and it further developed both my empathy skills and my relationships at work. I think that we can learn a lot from looking at problems and situations from different perspectives. The best approach is to ask others to tell us about their view.
What’s the number one challenge you face as a woman in your industry?
Not having close women in leadership positions to reach out to for specific situations. I have always had a great relationship with my managers. However, as women, we sometimes lack the opportunity to exchange work experiences with other women. Having said that, Australia is looking for ways to connect more of us every day.
Do you have any mentors? What does mentorship mean to you?
Yes, I am currently part of the Clean Energy Council – Women in Renewables Mentorship Program. It is my first experience having an assigned mentor. I think it is crucial to develop long-term relationships with people in leadership position so that you can reach out to them for help when you feel stuck. A fresh set of eyes and experience can help you solve a problem in one very short phone call.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
I would say that they should always ask themselves what they want to achieve. One of the questions that helped me shape my job search throughout 2020 was asked to me during an interview by a female manager. She asked me what were the three daily activities I wanted to be doing in my dream job, and three I did not want to do. This helped me break my career goals down to day-to-day tasks.
What is one thing companies can do, big or small, to help create an environment that advances women into leadership positions?
Work to bring women within their companies together by introducing women to other women they know in leadership positions.
What is one thing you hope to accomplish in the next year?
I hope to achieve a work-life balance in my new position that enables me to develop my career while enjoying spare time with my friends and family. I also hope to travel back to Argentina when it is possible again.
Is there a cause that is particularly close to you? If so, why this cause and how did you get involved?
I started getting really interested in supporting women in engineering. Currently, I am doing research to understand how we got here (see book recommendations) and building my network to participate more actively later in the year. I hope to be able to devote 1% of my time to promoting women in renewable space – especially in developing countries.
What do you like to do outside of the office? Any interesting (or unique) habits or interests?
I have taken up riding my bike into work (15km) as a new habit, and it has definitely had an impact in my start-of-day mood. It has been a long process to get there – I start riding outside last year, doing shorter rides first and then taking on the challenge on longer paths. I think work-life balance is a key skill to develop in order to have the right mindset during working hours.
Are you reading/listening to anything interesting at the moment? Please share your most recent favorite book or podcast!
I am reading a Spanish book called “Mal Educadas” by the female author Maria Florencia Freijo that is about the education women have received throughout history and how it’s impact can be traced to current day. I highly recommend it to women who would like to understand how we got here a bit better.
My favorite book of 2020 was “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari.
What’s been the one (or two!) things that have helped you navigate this past year? Any tips or tricks to dealing with remote work?
Communication in the work space has been vital. I have always reached out to my coworkers to talk about non-work related matters and just check in on how they are doing. My manager at Energy Terrain introduced a joke-per-day scheme at the end of our stand up meetings, which really helped us smile no matter how bad the joke was and brought us closer together in a different way.
The second tip is being able to realize when we need a break. At one point I saw myself become a lot less effective with my tasks and I understood I needed to take some time off. My original plan was to wait until the borders were opened, which did not happen. Finally, I asked my manager for some days off. After that period, I was able to go back to my more effective self.
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
What is your name and title?
Netta Dobbins, CEO at Mimconnect.
Briefly (1-2 sentences) describe your current role.
I’m the CEO of Mimconnect. We’re a diversity consultancy and tech-enabled platform helping diverse professionals navigate their careers.
How did you get here? Please share any quick stories from past work experiences.
Mimconnect started from my personal journey. I moved to NYC to work in entertainment, PR, and eventually advertising. Throughout those careers, I found myself as “the only” in a bunch of rooms — the only woman, the only black person, the youngest, etc. I created Mimconnect as a way to create a community of people who understood the nuances of navigating corporate America. In less than 3 weeks, that group chat grew to over 300 people. Today, we’re reaching just about 10K professionals nationwide.
In your opinion, what’s the #1 decision or move you’ve made that has helped advance your career?
Understanding that anything is possible and you should go after what you want. I never dreamed of being an entrepreneur. But quitting my job 2 years ago and hopping into entrepreneurship head first has been the most rewarding experience.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned this past year?
You can have the best strategy or ideas in the world, nothing ever goes as planned. So don’t get caught up in the details. Focus on executing the vision and be comfortable iterating/going in a different direction when needed.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
Understand that you belong in every room you enter. Often times women are dealing with imposter syndrome and have a tremendous amount of anxiety depending on the room we’re in. Remember that you were hired because of your perspective. In order to advance in your career, you need to put it on display. Feel confident in speaking up, stay knowledgable on the industry you’re working in, and be sure to bring other women up with you.
What is one thing companies can do, big or small, to help create an environment that advances women into leadership positions?
Start with the data. Understand where women currently rank in positions within your company and then create an action plan to implement more women. Find where the gaps are and partner with organizations to help you fill in those gaps. Additionally, create a safe environment for women to be vocal about their concerns – and then be open to implementing changes to address those concerns.
Are you reading/listening to anything interesting at the moment? Please share your most recent favorite book or podcast!
I’ve been tuned into the Earn Your Leisure podcast pretty heavily recently. They focus on different ways to build wealth, but in a culturally relevant way that’s easy for anyone to understand.
What’s been the one (or two!) things that have helped you navigate this past year? Any tips or tricks to dealing with remote work?
Therapy! I couldn’t have started therapy at a better time. Having someone to work through issues with has made all the difference in both my personal and professional life.
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
What is your name and title?
Geraldine Gray, CEO at Endiem.
Briefly (1-2 sentences) describe your current role.
I am the founder and CEO of Endiem, a partner trusted to deliver brilliant Salesforce solutions for the energy sector.
How did you get here? Please share any quick stories from past work experiences.
In my first role in the Salesforce industry, working for top consultancy Appirio, I became known as the “consultant to put on hard projects”. My travel schedule from coast-to-coast was grueling and some of the business challenges I was asked to solve for Fortune 50 companies brought difficult days and long, long nights. I led teams with fun, flair, and finesse – always striving to deliver excellent work that brought real efficiencies to those companies’ bottom line. All of this experience set me up for my role as CEO of Endiem. Being an entrepreneur is not for weaklings.
In your opinion, what’s the #1 decision or move you’ve made that has helped advance your career?
Prioritize building a support network of mentors, colleagues, and like-minded professional women. I can’t tell you how many times my network has guided me through challenges and pitfalls with superb advice. They have shared ideas, content, and best practices with honesty and transparency. Just knowing that I have a safety net of knowledge under me is a comfort as I make decisions that impact Endiem.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned this past year?
I never stop learning, and that includes from my customers. I was lucky enough to work with Dulce Borjas, CIO of ENGIE North America for a couple of years – she has a magical way of getting the best out of her team while giving them encouragement, responsibilities, and her time. She’s always ready with a smile or joke and is never intimidated by being the only woman in the room. Dulce’s vision of “IT as a Service” at ENGIE inspired the Endiem Team to work on our own digital transformation project last year. The changes we made contributed massively to our ability to succeed and deliver successful projects in 2020, even as COVID-19 impacted us all.
Do you have any mentors? What does mentorship mean to you?
I’ve been working for a long time and been lucky enough to have had several women guide and inspire me.
Meredith Williams was the CEO of Citibank UK in London when she hired me to run her office and her projects for the consumer business side of Citibank. As a technology driven organization, they were the first to offer true online banking in the UK. She instilled in me a love of tech, process, and technology that always put people at the heart of the results.
Lori Williams (not related!) hired me in my first “big” role as a Salesforce consultant. She was always available to chat and serve actionable advice when I was on some Salesforce’s most challenging projects for household names such as eBay, PayPal, and Time Inc. – which I needed as I grew into someone known as being able to handle the hardest technical challenges. I am so lucky to have her as a mentor and she has been pivotal in guiding me to build an organization where we can make decisions driven by data without losing sight of the humans who work here. Endiem has excelled in spite of COVID-19 because her guidance over the last few years ensured we had a solid financial foundation and a rockstar delivery team that wasn’t going to sway or rock in tough times.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
Even though I have 20 years of Salesforce experience and have grown a multi-million-dollar, self-funded business, I often look around the room while on projects and wonder when I am going to be uncovered as not smart enough. It hasn’t happened yet, but it always niggles at the back of my mind. It amazes me how I get to work with such clever colleagues – I’m still waiting to be found out! My bravado covers up my wonder at being where I am today. My advice to women just starting their careers is to realize that you don’t need to be 100% perfect, no one else is. Just work hard, have courage and be nice to people.
What is one thing you hope to accomplish in the next year?
Endiem gets 90% of new business from existing customer referrals. In the next year, I want to ‘bottle’ the methodology that has got us this level of recognition so that we can roll it out at scale to even more customers. However, I want to do it without ever losing the quality of delivery, ‘white gloves’ service and fun and flair that we offer to our customers now.
Is there a cause that is particularly close to you? If so, why this cause and how did you get involved?
Endiem supports a long list of causes, both local and national. However, one cause that has been really close to our hearts this year and more important than ever through the pandemic has been Houston based charity Kids Meals Inc.
What do you like to do outside of the office? Any interesting (or unique) habits or interests?
I have two kids, one husband, one dog, one cat and one business to run. So, while I wish I could give you a list of elaborate hobbies and sports, that’s not on the agenda! If I want to unwind out of the office then it’s likely to be a pumped up kitchen disco with spangly lights and a couple of hilarious, highly excitable five-year-olds! The dog loves ABBA too.
Are you reading/listening to anything interesting at the moment? Please share your most recent favorite book or podcast!
I have a plans to read “No Forms. No Spam. No Cold Calls: The Next Generation of Account-Based Sales and Marketing” by Appirio alumnus Latane Conant.
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
What is your name and title?
Betsy Walker, Vice President, Business Systems and Processes at Appfire.
Briefly (1-2 sentences) describe your current role.
I lead the team that manages my company’s internal IT systems, servers, corporate applications, and data warehouse.
How did you get here? Please share any quick stories from past work experiences.
I’ve been in many technical roles throughout my career – such as developer, systems analyst, consultant, project manger, manager, and IT operations director. Each of those roles gave me valuable perspectives and broad experience as both an individual contributor and as a manager.
In your opinion, what’s the #1 decision or move you’ve made that has helped advance your career?
When considering a job change or role change, my #1 priority has always been to choose based on my future boss. Working for someone who inspires me and from whom I can learn is essential.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned this past year?
The last year has made social connections more important yet harder to maintain. With everyone now being a Zoom expert, there are creative ways to connect. I host a weekly happy hour call with relatives, my friends, and my friends’ friends which has been very fun. I also play mah jongg each week as I have done for years – except now it is online while we’re on a Zoom call so we can chat.
Do you have any mentors? What does mentorship mean to you?
I have not had any mentors, but I support others as they advance in their career and encourage them to do the same. There is so much that can be gained through learning from another’s experiences as well as your own.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
Hard work should always bring you recognition and visibility. If it doesn’t, then you may be in the wrong place.
What is one thing companies can do, big or small, to help create an environment that advances women into leadership positions?
Allow for representation at all levels. Diversity of all kinds leads to more innovative and creative thinking.
What is one thing you hope to accomplish in the next year?
Stay healthy!
Is there a cause that is particularly close to you? If so, why this cause and how did you get involved?
As the mother of a daughter who was blind since birth, I am very interested in how technology levels the playing field, so to speak, by making the world more accessible. I follow technological trends and advocate for accessibility through organizations such as Perkins School for the Blind, which my daughter attended.
When did your company join Pledge 1%? What does your impact program mean to you?
Appfire joined Pledge 1% in 2015. Our founders sincerely believe in the philanthropic mission and impact that our Pledge 1% commitment can accomplish.
What do you like to do outside of the office? Any interesting (or unique) habits or interests?
I love cooking, because it’s both relaxing and fun to cook for others. One day after I’ve retired, I plan on cooking all the recipes in the Great British Bake Off show’s cookbook.
Are you reading/listening to anything interesting at the moment? Please share your most recent favorite book or podcast!
“101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think” by Brianna Wiest.
What’s been the one (or two!) things that have helped you navigate this past year? Any tips or tricks to dealing with remote work?
I’ve found it’s essential to lighten up at work and share with each other about the irony, stress, and boredom of working through a pandemic. It gives my team the permission to not neglect their work/life balance, despite have a blurring-of-the-lines between what constitutes the work day.
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
What is your name and title?
Anneke Forzani, President and Founder at Language Lizard.
Briefly (1-2 sentences) describe your current role.
I oversee all aspects of Language Lizard, a small business that publishes and distributes children’s resources in over 50 languages to schools, libraries and literacy organizations. We support multicultural education and culturally responsive teaching.
How did you get here? Please share any quick stories from past work experiences.
I spent several years working as a marketing manager for a large telecommunications company, serving immigrant communities that spoke Arabic, Russian, and Polish. I recognized that most companies were not focusing on these communities and, as such, often their needs were not being met. At the same time, I was studying children’s writing and graphic design to engage the creative side of my brain “for fun”. These two experiences led me to develop a business that would provide children’s books in home languages for communities that did not have high quality literacy materials in their languages.
In your opinion, what’s the #1 decision or move you’ve made that has helped advance your career?
For several years, I worked with a professor of education and some graduate students on a book that would support teachers in developing culturally responsive classrooms, helping diverse students thrive both academically and socially. The book was a culmination of years of working with teachers of diverse students, and the book was published at the end of 2019. This book has helped to position our company as a leader in promoting diversity education.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned this past year?
If sales are slow due to circumstances beyond your control, find important work to do to set your company and yourself up for success when things get back to normal.
What’s the number one challenge you face as a woman in your industry?
I interact with many women educators and literacy professionals, so being a woman has not been a hindrance in my current career. What has been a challenge, is being a working mother, particularly during a year like this – when children do not have their regular routines, and normal support structures are unavailable. This year has forced me to focus and prioritize more than ever before.
Do you have any mentors? What does mentorship mean to you?
I had a great mentor for many years in my previous company. She was a senior executive and helped me to move to many different, interesting positions throughout the company. She is an amazing example of strong, female leadership, and showed me how to lead successfully with high expectations AND compassion for members of your team. I think a good mentor or role model can help you learn how to lead, and can provide opportunities for success.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
You can learn from both great managers and from those who are not so good. Find traits that you want to emulate as well as those that you want to avoid. Also, make sure you are always learning. If you are not learning, then see if you can move to a new opportunity (even if it’s in the same company) where you will learn and grow.
What is one thing companies can do, big or small, to help create an environment that advances women into leadership positions?
Offer an ability to move through different roles in the company to grow and learn new skills. Also, allow women, and all employees, to manage their schedules flexibly so they can succeed at work and at home.
What is one thing you hope to accomplish in the next year?
Provide books in some new languages, including some indigenous languages.
Is there a cause that is particularly close to you? If so, why this cause and how did you get involved?
Room to Read – they support global literacy and girls education, two causes that are close to my heart. They also have a program where they mentor writers and illustrators in developing countries to help develop talent around the world. I learned about the organization from a friend who is the head of a NJ chapter.
When did your company join Pledge 1%? What does your impact program mean to you?
Early 2020. We support an organization that promotes diversity in children’s books, and also Room to Read and some smaller programs. It is extremely meaningful to support literacy and educational initiatives throughout the world which will help bring people out of poverty, and also will help build community in diverse classrooms.
What do you like to do outside of the office? Any interesting (or unique) habits or interests?
I love to visit national parks, hike, and challenge myself physically. Two years ago, I hiked up half dome in Yosemite National Park which was a huge accomplishment for me as I have a fear of heights. I also try to train once a year for sprint triathlons.
Are you reading/listening to anything interesting at the moment? Please share your most recent favorite book or podcast!
I just discovered a new podcast called the Superhuman Project Podcast. The Superhuman Project is “an effort to help individuals become the best version of themselves & live their full potential.”
What’s been the one (or two!) things that have helped you navigate this past year? Any tips or tricks to dealing with remote work?
Breath. I began meditating and have been learning to become more present in the moment, focusing on the here and now rather than worrying about the future.
You can learn more about our company with this 5 minute video.
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
What is your name and title?
Deena Tearney, CEO at Pacific Point Inc.
Briefly (1-2 sentences) describe your current role.
Pacific Point is a Salesforce consulting firm, rooted in Honolulu, Denver and Sydney. My role is to lead the strategy and growth of the company.
In your opinion, what’s the #1 decision or move you’ve made that has helped advance your career?
To always be learning. I have realized that I have so much to learn, every single day.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned this past year?
Despite the pandemic, Pacific Point had the incredible honor to be recognized by Inc. 5000 alongside so many impressive businesses. This ranking is not only a testament to excellence of our consulting team, but also highlights the growing need for technology solutions that strengthen businesses and enable personalized customer experiences. Now, more than ever, we are hyper-focused on delivering valuable Salesforce solutions and business results for our clients.
What’s the number one challenge you face as a woman in your industry?
As a woman in technology, which is male dominated, I work hard at finding the balance of being an empathetic leader as well as a boss. However through my leadership style, I am proud to say that once people join our company, they rarely leave unless its personal reasons or moving cities. I am very proud of building this work family.
Do you have any mentors? What does mentorship mean to you?
Mentorship has been an important part of my career development. My primary approach to mentorship is through indirect mentors. I felt that I would gain the most value by watching closely how leaders and peers handled situations in my day-to-day job and situations I knew and understood well. I would ask colleagues their perspectives on things that were happening right in front of us. For me, it is a very practical form of mentorship in what to do (and what not to do) without those people even realizing they were mentoring me. I think what is key in mentorship is that you still trust your own intuition.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
Starting your career is the time to focus on learning and build skills and experience. Hard work and taking ownership are essential throughout your career. I like this quote on Instagram, “Instead of begging for a seat, build your own table”.
Seek opportunities and work hard, you got this!
What is one thing you hope to accomplish in the next year?
I founded Pacific Point with the goal of bringing CRM and Salesforce to the Hawaii market. Seven years later, Pacific Point is the state’s leading Salesforce consulting firm and is currently Hawaii’s only consulting firm that is a certified Salesforce partner. Growing nationally and internationally has been extremely exciting, although there was definitely a learning curve. Because of the challenges with traveling to our Sydney and Singapore offices, my goal for this year is to focus on our growth in the Denver area, and to connect with community in all of the cities we have offices in.
Is there a cause that is particularly close to you? If so, why this cause and how did you get involved?
I have a passion for encouraging youth to pursue careers in business, leadership, and
technology. I support various youth programs that are focused on topics such as STEM, Women in Business and Leadership, and Women in Technology. My career in technology has been really rewarding for me, so I want to encourage young women to consider careers in this field.
When did your company join Pledge 1%? What does your impact program mean to you?
Pacific Point joined Pledge 1% in December of 2019. We actually have had our impact program running for several years but felt it was time to “make it official.” We love volunteering our time to inspire students, especially girls, to pursue careers in technology through hands-on workshops and professional mentoring. Recently, we taught a hands-on workshop to junior high women on building a lemonade stand on the Salesforce platform.
What do you like to do outside of the office? Any interesting (or unique) habits or interests?
In my spare time, I love to golf – it’s a great mental game for me. I get distracted with a lot of things throughout the day and many different things happening at once. I love clearing my head when I play golf and focusing on one thing – hitting the ball. Fresh air and playing with a friend is also a huge plus!
Are you reading/listening to anything interesting at the moment? Please share your most recent favorite book or podcast!
I’m a huge fan of Gary Vaynerchuk and listen to his podcast in the car if I’m not on calls or with family. He is such an inspiration to me with his raw communication on positivity, gratefulness, and kindness, yet counter-balanced with his grit to work hard and fight for the win. His insights on marketing bring me a lot of value as well!
What’s been the one (or two!) things that have helped you navigate this past year? Any tips or tricks to dealing with remote work?
We sent special packages out to our employees with a Pacific Point trucker hat and a bottle of wine. (Many thanks to 1813 in Australia as well as Empathy Wines and Darioush in Napa Valley, CA for making it happen!) Then we put on our company hats, poured ourselves a glass, and signed on for some much-needed (re)bonding. It was a great chance to rehash old office jokes, nerd out about shared interests, and generally reconnect with some of the people we’ve been missing. As an added bonus, we strengthened our international bonds that in the past relied on long plane flights to build and maintain.
I know logging into a meeting with no agenda can seem daunting for some teams. If that’s a concern for you, sending items for the meeting can help break the ice or have a few non-work topics ready just in case. Once the ball is rolling, your team will remember what it’s like to…well… be a team.
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
What is your name and title?
Renee Barker, Food System Sustainability Manager at Postmates Civic Labs.
Briefly (1-2 sentences) describe your current role.
As part of the Civic Labs social impact team, I positively impact neighborhoods through community engagement and innovative technology solutions. I head up our work that tackles food security and sustainability across the communities we operate in.
How did you get here? Please share any quick stories from past work experiences.
I have been involved in various aspects of sustainability in my career, but really honed in on food security in my role at Postmates. I believe it is important to look at a broad view of how we can affect the food system as a delivery company and make an impact in the environmental, social, and economic sectors. Recently, I was really excited to work on our partnership to purchase and donate meals from Black-owned restaurants to those that are feeding the hungry in their communities. We have also been working to empower restaurants to donate food easily through our FoodFight program to assist their neighbors in need.
In your opinion, what’s the #1 decision or move you’ve made that has helped advance your career?
Being open to learning from others has been incredible! Engaging with other companies on their social impact programs and learnings through Pledge 1% has been extremely helpful. Also, having the support to pursue my continuing education in Product Management through General Assembly has helped inform how I tackle projects and interact with our team.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned this past year?
The importance of community. Many of us faced a challenging year both personally and professionally, and it is so important to come together virtually to keep the connections we have to support and uplift each other. It can be challenging to engage with others while staying at home – but the connection is what a lot of us need to stay motivated, happy, and ready to tackle anything.
What’s the number one challenge you face as a woman in your industry?
There is still a lot of room for improvement in terms of equity for women in the tech industry – from equal pay, to funding, to representation in senior leadership roles.
Do you have any mentors? What does mentorship mean to you?
There are so many people that I look up to and seek advice from as mentors! To me, mentorship is about listening and guiding, and offering expertise to help you find the answers yourself.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
Be open to change and seize opportunities when you see them! It’s okay for there to be some uncertainty in your career path – I never thought I would have ended up where I am today when I graduated. Always value learning and growing, and remember that the world is always changing and your priorities may change as well.
What is one thing companies can do, big or small, to help create an environment that advances women into leadership positions?
Be supportive of each other and advocate for clear career pathing and opportunities for advancement at your company. Invest in the women at your company to grow into leadership roles.
What is one thing you hope to accomplish in the next year?
A lot of my professional goals are centered in making a positive impact at a large scale. I hope to continue to grow and strengthen the programs that I work on, and grow my own professional skills in more technical aspects.
Is there a cause that is particularly close to you? If so, why this cause and how did you get involved?
My passion for sustainability stems from my love of nature and the outdoors. Systems and connections in nature is well studied, but in our complicated globalized economy it can be hard to see the links and ways to increase equity and reduce waste across so many sectors. I hope to bring more clarity to building a more equitable and circular economy that brings resources to those who are in need.
When did your company join Pledge 1%? What does your impact program mean to you?
I am so proud of Postmates for joining Pledge 1% and for tackling so much with such a small team. As our company grows in new markets, our potential impact is also growing to meet the needs of communities we operate in across the country.
What do you like to do outside of the office? Any interesting (or unique) habits or interests?
I’ve reinvigorated my hobby of embroidery! My knots are messy and it doesn’t look great, but I am enjoying learning new techniques and working on a new creative outlet!
Are you reading/listening to anything interesting at the moment? Please share your most recent favorite book or podcast!
Untamed: The Wildest Woman in America and the Fight for Cumberland Island by Will Harlan is an amazing story that I hope everyone can check out and be inspired by!
What’s been the one (or two!) things that have helped you navigate this past year? Any tips or tricks to dealing with remote work?
What helps me is to be deliberate at setting aside time to be away from technology and staring at a screen. It is easy to be connected at all times and always looking at my laptop, but I feel so much better when I can go for a walk without my phone notifications or play with my dog in the yard for a break every day.