Words of Advice for the Next Generation of #WomenLeaders

My mother is amazing.  

An expert educator, she is multilingual (speaks eight languages!), and forever curious. She’s a powerful role model and was a strong source of inspiration for my sister, my cousins, and me growing up in Los Angeles. She’s also a real tough cookie. 

While my mother held me to high standards as a young girl, she was also my number one fan and my biggest supporter. Thanks to her, I developed a lifelong passion for learning, viewing it as a continuous journey that leads me to challenge myself, question the status quo, and focus on new possibilities.  

That journey is what emboldens me to speak up, to be a force for good, to lead by example, and to be a strong mentor, enabling young women to do and achieve more. 

Women’s History Month, is one of the times we recognize the power of unity to fuel the growth, retention, and leadership of women around the world. Working in an industry historically dominated by men, I’ve battled against the preconceived notions of what a leader in tech should look like, where they should come from, what type of education or degree they should have. I understand the importance of allyship and creating opportunities for women in technology.  

While I work to highlight this every day, I appreciate the opportunity to join the chorus of advocates and allies across the globe celebrating women and inspiring the next generation of women in leadership.  

Recently, I had the opportunity to engage with a variety of executives from our device and silicon partners. During CES 2021, many shared with me their perspective on what it means to be a woman leader in the tech industry and how they’ve set out to inspire the next generation of women.  

Below are a few key takeaways gleaned from the interviews with these amazing women, and from my own history, too. 

Invite others on your journey  

Meghana Patwardhan, VP of Commercial Mobility Group at Dell, shared that when entering any position of power or leadership as a woman, it's important to bring other women along the journey. It’s about facilitating a network of support and building one another up.  

From Meghana’s perspective, what is often perceived as a small action, can have a lasting ripple effect. It can be as simple as amplifying the voice of another woman by repeating what she said in a meeting to ensure the ideas are acknowledge. These small, yet powerful, actions create a halo effect of impact when done with intention and purpose.   

Tiffany Huang, Co-Chief Operating Officer at Acer, shared in our interview that 30% of the company’s managers are comprised of women leaders. This statistic inspires her to continue promoting collaboration, working to support women in leadership throughout the company. Together, we can all be part of the rising tide.  

Mentorship is a must   

Creating opportunities for women in our field is a fundamental aspect of my work as a leader, and mentorship is an integral piece of the puzzle. I get so much energy by working 1:1 with aspiring women leaders, helping them to discover a world of possibilities and a path to get there. 

Throughout my life, I’ve benefited from having mentors who saw attributes in me that I didn't see in myself. They helped me recognize my strengths and guided me through challenging situations, influencing me to learn, and to speak up. However, while living and traveling abroad, I was reminded that not everyone has the same access to the education, support, and mentorship needed to succeed. That’s why I’m so invested in 1:1 mentoring relationships; I have a responsibility to show up for these women and pay it forward in a meaningful and impactful way, and I encourage others to do the same.  

Be authentically you 

For Stephanie Hallford, Vice President and General Manager, Business Client Platforms at Intel, it’s about being authentically you. She spends a significant amount of time connecting and supporting women at Intel, taking a personal interest in authenticity. In her opinion, when women feel they should conform—to a perspective, opinion, or style—being authentic and true to themselves is the best path forward.  

As a leader in tech, I’ve certainly been the only woman in the room on many occasions. And, frankly, there were times when I felt different or even uncomfortable, but I had to remind myself that I have as much to contribute to those meetings as anybody else. By virtue of my being an “only” in the room, I also bring a valuable, different perspective not represented by anyone else and it really highlights for me how important it is to be intentional about inclusion. That can mean actively being an ally to someone in a meeting by making space for them to speak or expressing your support for their comments. Or it may be a private outreach to someone who may not see themself reflected in peer groups and workplaces. The key word is intentional, because it’s easy to fall into routine and think only of the next task, the next meeting, the next email. But stepping outside your zone and serving as a resource for others is what’s needed right now.  

I’ll end with a piece of advice Meghana shared with Stephanie and me during our discussion; “When thinking about your life—your personal and your career—treat it as a marathon, not a sprint.”  

You can have it all, you just might not reach every single goal at the same time, and that’s ok.  

It’s important to focus on the long game, to celebrate all the wins, to learn from failures (which WILL happen) and to never lose sight of uplifting others along the way.  

The drive to do more and be more was instilled in me by my mother and reinforced by my mentors. The conversations with Tiffany, Meghana, and Stephanie underscored the importance of unity and served as a reminder that when we collectively advocate for what’s right, change is possible.  

We can be an advocate and an ally to women, from any background, helping positively impact their journey, and in turn, the path of those that will come after them. Learn more about how Microsoft is shining a light on women of all identities and backgrounds, sharing stories of empowerment throughout Women’s History Month here.