Women's History Month: Q&A with Heather Murray's Top 8 Factors for Success!!

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

I have been working since I was 14 years old, where I learned the value of hard work, earning money to obtain financial independence, and the importance of excellent customer service in everything you do. These are foundational lessons every successful person learns in life, and I hope to teach my kids.

I am a mother, a partner, a friend, a mentor, a professional, and a woman! I have 2 children (Tyler age 17, Alex age 15) they are my world and my greatest accomplishment. I also have 3 stepchildren who in addition their dad has been in my life over 13 years (Tori 21, Maranda 23, Zane 26) they keep life interesting and full of new experiences. 

I am proud of the career I have had at Tech Data; I have spent the last 22 years working my way up from Marketing Account Executive to Vice President, Transformation & Customer Journey. It has been an amazing ride where I have made lifelong friends, building new business models, founded Elevate, our female-led business resource group, and championed Diversity and Inclusion through hiring and promoting people from all walks of life.

 What are your top factors for success? 

1. Build your reputation based on your core values: It shouldn't be a surprise that my #1 success factor is anchored in core values. I have had an amazing career at Tech Data, where my personal beliefs and values align perfectly with our company core values: Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Inclusion, Collaboration, and Excellence. 

Stay true to yourself, be honest, be a good person, and treat people with respect.  

2. Put your family first and focus on your health (mental and physical): I get this question a lot: How do you balance work and life responsibilities? Like a boss!  

As women, we tend to feel the need to be perfect at everything, literally impossible. This is one area that leading by example sets the tone for the culture of your team. I have been blessed to work for some great leaders who have embraced and promoted balance through leading by example @kevinkennedy, @gregparsonsons, @chuckbartlett. 

How do you expect to perform at your best if you are not taking care of yourself?

Life is all about balance; I set clear boundaries in my personal and professional life. I make time for myself, my family, and my friends. A long time ago, I learned to say "No" and not feel bad about it. I also learned that companies give us to vacation for a reason. We all need time to decompress and take a break; that is why companies offer vacation time as a benefit. Take it all, never leave an hour of vacation on the table- you have earned it!

3. Focus on the experience. Always be present in how you interact with people:  With the world changing and everyone being remote, it is even more important than ever to be present and engage. I have been spending a lot of time with @Mark Cunningham, CEO, and founder at The Achieve Institute, and he always reminds me to ask myself, "what experience do you want people to have with you?" Think about every interaction you have with people, the way you present yourself, what outcome are you looking for? I want people to feel confident in my abilities, feel that they are in good hands with my leadership, and am an open and honest communicator.  

This is one of the most challenging areas for me to work on consistently. I am a multitasker at heart, and I find it hard to focus on one thing, but I try to be a good listener and stay engaged. #lifeskills, #listening

4. Always keep your commitments, set realistic expectations: In business and life, people tend to overcommit, which leads to disappointment and a lack of trust. Being dependable is one of your greatest assets. Always do what you say you are going to do, and if you commit, stand by it.

As a single mom, I committed myself and my kids to prioritize participating in school volunteer programs and attending all their sporting events. I wanted to show them how important they were to me, and I didn't want to miss anything. Your kids only grow up once, and you will never get this time back. I quickly learned that I couldn't be at every game, concert, or volunteer for every field trip – I had to re-evaluate my commitment and set different expectations with my kids. I was still visible and participated to the best of my ability, and I communicated with them every time I had to change plans, and they appreciated that. 

I am not saying that it was easy or without disappointment, but we made it work. Working for a company like Tech Data that promotes balance and flexibility made it easier for me to keep my commitments. 

5. Give back, pay it forward: I am extremely passionate about advancing women in IT; I spend considerable time mentoring and coaching women to help them gain confidence and the skills needed to achieve their goals. I believe in giving back every chance I get. The knowledge I have gained working my way from an individual contributor to an executive is my greatest asset and motivator. 

I try to share my experiences with both men and women to remind them that their journey is always evolving, and that change is inevitable. We have to lift each other and believe in each other so that we can all rise together! 

Please take the opportunity to mentor and sponsor women; no one can do it alone. Over the years, my mentors and sponsors have made a significant difference in my life and have helped shape who I am today. @janetschijns, @briandavis, @eileengibson, @angiemccourt, @charleskriete, @chrisbaron, @markcunningham, @franciscocriado, @kevinkennedy, @jaywilson, @davidprairie, @petepeterson

 6. Set goals, follow through- It's ok to fail!: I am goal-oriented; I focus on what needs to get done and prioritize the most important activities first. I love a good checklist, and I strive to stay organized and think ahead. I drive everyone in my life crazy with my lists, but it works for me. Every year my kids and I set our annual goals, and at the end of the year, we review what we accomplished. It is never about what didn't get done; we stay positive and celebrate what we accomplished. We move the unfinished goals to the next year, and we move forward. #goals

7. Be yourself; always be honest and authentic; people will know the difference!: It took me a long time to believe in myself and trust that I was smart enough to be a leader and, ultimately, an executive in a Fortune 100 company. I questioned myself a lot when I was young; I wasn't the girl who got good grades, science and math were hard for me. I hated reading. I couldn't retain anything I read, so I always failed tests. I had massive test anxiety and would give up. It wasn't until I was in my mid20'ss that I started to believe in myself.   

 I went back to college at 23 after being passed up for a promotion because I didn't have my degree. I was the most qualified person for the job, but I was told that my lack of a degree said to upper management that I lacked discipline. I was devastated, but I didn't let that stop me. 

I had a mission to get my degree in 2.5 years and get a job in marketing. I accomplished that goal, and it set me on my path to success at Tech Data, where I have worked for the past 22 years.

It was hard for me to see the intangibles that I brought to the table: dedication, perseverance, commitment, passion, empathy, and commitment. People meet me today, and they are surprised to hear that I was a shy girl who lacked confidence. I had to work hard to believe in myself, and I get constant reinforcement from my family, friends, and mentors. I believe in paying it forward, which is why I mentor many young professionals, both women, and men. I tell them my story and hope that it helps them build confidence and empowers them to dream big.

8. Never stop learning, be curious: Believe it or not, reading has become one of my favorite past times. I learned to love reading well after graduating from college, and it was no longer a requirement. I read at least 1-2 books a week to improve myself and one as a guilty pleasure.  

One of my favorite authors is Simon Sinek; he has simplified so many meaningful lessons. I get a quote of the week from him, and my all-time favorite is this one" "Dream big. Start small. But most of all, start" My final share with you is my 2021 reading list, enjoy!

• You're in Charge – Now What? Thomas Neff & James Citrin (re-read)
• Start with Why, Simon Sinek (re-read)
• The Servant Leader's Manifesto, Omar Harris
• Own Your Culture, Bretton Putter
• Radical Candor (Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity), Kim Scott
• Own Your Everyday: Overcome the Pressure to Prove and Show Up for What You Were Made to Do, Jordan Lee Dooley
• Dare to Lead, Brene Brown
• Never Split the Difference, Chris Voss
• Unapologetically Ambitious, Dan Schulman

-Brian