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 Do you think enough is currently being done to counterbalance what has become an obvious lack of women in technology?
There are programs like STEM, etc. from the government and organizations like First (founded by Dean Kamen) trying to encourage young students to be interested in Science and Technology. However, our educational system has to be changed to put more emphasis on Maths and Science for young students. The encouraging news is women enrolment in Engineering schools is rising like Olin Engineering College has more than 50% female Freshman students.
Did you choose a career in IT in the first place? e.g. was it a choice or a natural progression from something you'd done previously?It was my lucky opportunity. I was a maths and chemistry major during my first year of graduate school. I was looking for a summer job and IBM was hiring, so I went for an interview. They hired me as a scientific programmer and I stayed in the industry.
Are you aware of any preconceptions or stereotypes of women in IT, and if so what do you think of them?Yes, even women have preconceptions and stereotypes about themselves and each other!
For example, women are rarely vocal about their accomplishments. They expect that by helping others succeed, they will automatically be recognized and rewarded for their own contributions. I think women need to actively communicate the value they bring.
How would you describe the work environment / working culture at State Street Corporation?Our CEO, Jay Hooley, holds his leadership team accountable for creating and maintaining a positive environment for women. He also leads by example.
How has State Street Corporation's stance on women impacted you personally?I’m extremely fortunate to work for a company where my ability to rise rapidly through the executive ranks wasn’t hampered by my gender or race. I was promoted from SVP to EVP just 2 years after joining the company. At that time, 2003, I was told that this was very unusual at State Street… after such a short time with the company!
Can you share a few words of wisdom for those people who are thinking about joining State Street Corporation?State Street may be a large global corporation, but it feels more like a neighbourhood, or even a family. I enjoy every day here! One of our values is “Stronger together” so we work very well as a team.
Describe your background and career at State Street Corporation (how long you've worked there, the roles and responsibilities you've held etc.)I’ve been at State Street for over a decade. I started first as SVP, head of Enterprise Technology Services; then, SVP, Global Infrastructure Services. I am now honoured to be our EVP, Chief Innovation Officer and Technology Fellow.
What have been the highlights of your career at State Street Corporation and what do you like best about working at State Street?A few examples of my career highlights include:
- Implementing Infrastructure Transformation that dramatically reduced expenses and unit costs while improving IT infrastructure performance significantly.
- Leading IT infrastructure innovation to support our business during significant change, including unprecedented global expansion and acquisitions, market upheaval, and regulatory impacts.
- Driving State Street’s environmental sustainability technology initiatives, helping to secure the Company’s position as an industry leader.
My journey here has been more fantastic than I could have imagined. For example, I never expected to ultimately be promoted to EVP.
How would you describe State Street Corporation’s approach to diversity in its work force, in particular women's initiatives?Diversity is central to State Street’s values. We have a Global Inclusion program that is a significant presence in our day-to-day lives.
What are your tips for success at State Street Corporation?My advice to others would be to:
- Become a company asset by delivering value to State Street’s business and be able to make contributions to our bottom line.
- Get to know people, build relationships, and never let the day-to-day challenges interfere with or sever those personal bonds.
- Don’t be a problem to your boss; become his/her life-line.
- Take calculated risks in innovation – just be sure to always think them through first.
In your experience, what value and emphasis does State Street Corporation place on women's initiatives? Can you give us any examples?Perhaps the best demonstration of this is the presence of internal groups focused on supporting and developing our women. There is a Leading Women’s Network, which was formed by our female EVPs. There is a Women’s Information Network that is specifically designed and managed by women in IT. And finally, there is a Professional Women’s Network with members at all levels across the organization. Best of all, there is collaboration and inclusion across all of these groups.
What are your career aspirations at State Street Corporation?I just got my dream job! I couldn’t be happier!
What do you think could be done to actively encourage more women to join the technology market place in general?We need to market our success to young women. I am on the Business Advisory Board for Simmons School of Management trying to help attract more women to technology. I’m also a guest lecturer at some of our local universities’ MBA programs, like Boston University, Simmons, MIT, and Northeastern. Usually, students become quite excited about what we have done and it inspires them to consider the field of IT.
Tell us a little about your life outside of work.I enjoy going out for a good meal or see a show or go to a concert with friends or colleagues. The people that I connect with stimulate my mind.
I also like to read a lot of books and watch shows that teach me and inspire me. A few examples of some interesting books are listed further below; examples of shows I enjoy include:
- Shark Tank, which is about ambitious prospective entrepreneurs
- CNBC’s Titans, which features visionaries, what inspired them and how they succeeded, and
- CEO Corner, which features successful CEOs sharing their wisdom
- The Undercover CEO, which is about CEOs tried to understand their people and the value they bring.
I also like to do what I can to give back by doing charity work in my community and mentoring both men and women – inside and outside of State Street.
Do you think it might have been a different story, of "how you got to where you are now", if you'd been a man?Yes, although I’m not sure it would have been better! I think I got to where I am now because the challenges I experienced provided a powerful toolkit. I became much more resilient and flexible than I would have been if things had been easier for me.
How important do think your education or background has been in influencing your career choices?Chinese was my native language. So, when I came to America to attend college, mathematics and chemistry were my obvious double-majors, where I could easily excel, as my English improved over time. And, when I graduated, Scientific Programmers were suddenly in demand.
Do you think that there are obvious differences between what men and women have to offer an IT department?I think women may often be less likely to take risks, perhaps because there’s a sense that they may only have one chance. On the other hand, we tend to possess somewhat greater emotional intelligence and the ability to read people, which are quite valuable managerial and negotiating skills.
What books / websites would you recommend to others?I love to read and there are many great books that I’ve enjoyed. A few that come to mind are:
- What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith
- Borrowing Brilliance by David Murray
- Disciplined Dreaming by Josh Linkner
- Extraordinary, Ordinary People by Condoleeza Rice
- Six Degrees: The Science of Connected Age by Duncan J. Watts
There are also a lot of websites that stimulate me. www.edge.org, for example, is a great virtual space to learn and be inspired. There is a book, Taschen’s 1000 Favorite Web Sites which is a great reference.
If you could give young women looking for a position in the IT marketplace a single piece of advice what would it be?Information Technology is an exciting career for women, since this infrastructure now dominates our daily lives. It is our universal interface to the human world and the evolving expressway to our future.
Vision, Emotional Intelligence and the ability to Execute successfully are what distinguish great leaders.
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