Career
Career Advice from 5 Powerful Silicon Valley Women
5 impressive female leaders in the tech world give their ceiling-shattering advice.
Marissa Mayer
“I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that’s how you grow. When there’s that moment of ‘Wow, I’m not really sure I can do this,’ and you push through those moments, that’s when you have a breakthrough.” – Marissa Mayer
As a child, Mayer was “painfully shy”. In high school, she was on the curling team and the precision dance team, and excelled in chemistry, calculus, biology, and physics. She took part in extracurricular activities, becoming president of her high school’s Spanish club, treasurer of Key Club, captain of the debate team, and —get this— captain of the pom-pom squad! Really. They were state runner-up. She also worked as a grocery clerk during high school. Always the overachiever, while studying artificial intelligence at Stanford, she danced in the university ballet’s Nutcracker, was a member of parliamentary debate, volunteered at children’s hospitals, and helped bring computer-science education to Bermuda’s schools. Oh, and somehow still had time to get honors grades.
Marissa Mayer was Google’s first engineer, a Stanford University alumni with a specialization in artificial intelligence who would eventually be responsible for some of Google’s most recognizable achievements. She was instrumental in developing aspects of Google’s user interface, including its recognizable search page, but was also a critical developer for Gmail and Google Maps. While Mayer was working at Google, she taught introductory computer programming at Stanford and mentored students at the East Palo Alto Charter School. She is now CEO at internet tech company Yahoo!, which the Wall Street Journal notes comes with a hefty compensation package valued at $42.1 million a year. From pom pom squad captain / grocery clerk to shaping the way people use the Internet: You go, girl!
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.