What do these three Senior level women in technology have in common? All of them are featured in CLIMB, a book detailing the career lessons and advice from powerful women in technology. They share their advice on how to get to the top in technology fields. Hear their stories. Here’s who they are.
Marva Bailer
Marva is a technology sales leader for IBM. In her current role her team contributes to $1 Billion Global business as the Business Unit Executive for Media and Entertainment, Energy and Utilities and Telecommunications for Software Solutions in NA. She is a WIT nominee for Woman of the Year for 2006 and 2010 and Executive Board Member for Techbridge, the Co- Chair of the Digital Ball, Recipient of 2011 President’s Volunteer Service Award. She serves as a mentor in the Robinson School of Business Honors program. She is a contributing Author for “CLIMB”. Her passion and energy for connecting people, technology and community shine through in her interview.
Key Tips on Being a Transformational Leader:
1. Purpose, Passion and Vision. Personalize the companies vision of values, solution to the end customer, and how it fits into the greater vision of the company. Have passion and be able to tell a story that enables people to visualize and personally connect to the vision. Celebrate and promote the examples when people do work that is out of the box and in line with the vision make others aware of their success.
2. Innovating- Understanding other industries and companies and how they may apply, partner, compete with your mission and focus. Encourage discussion and debate.
3. People- Mentor, Mentor, Mentor– Be and Mentor, Have a Mentor, Encourage others to Mentor. Give constructive feedback never hold a grudge or let anyone rest on their laurels. Continue to challenge people to be the best. LISTEN there may be other factors in someone’s life or circle of influence that you need to consider when coaching.
4. Trust- Do not ask anyone to do anything you would not do yourself and do it first when every possible to set an example that it can be done! Have your teams back, be their biggest fan, and promote their success, and innovation to others. Success is contagious.
Theresa Brunnasso
As Founder and President of D&S Microwave, Theresa is a 30-year veteran in the field of Electrical Engineering. She is a consultant in the Microwave Aerospace and Defense Community. Previously, she spent over 20 years at EMS Technologies, Defense and Space Systems division. At D&SS, Theresa served as Microwave Engineering Manager, Director of Technology Development, and provided innovative design and development expertise for D&SS heritage programs such as JSTARS, DarkStar, NSTAR, Milstar, Advanced EHF, IntelSat and Mars Science Lab. WIT honored Theresa in 2008 as WIT Woman of the Year.
Her tips for Transformational Leadership:
Be dependable: Your team should know they can count on you to do the right thing and meet your commitments.
Be confident: If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you.
Be generous: Be generous with praise, help others to succeed, and mentor the next generation of leaders
Bonnie Daneker
As CEO of Write Advisors, Bonnie Bajorek Daneker oversees the strategic direction of the company to enable its clients to express themselves digitally and in print, using the most appropriate resources to reach their goals. Formerly, she was President of BD Donaldson Publishing, Inc., an Atlanta-based publishing company that created and distributed healthcare information. Author of The Compassionate Caregiver Series®, Bonnie released her seventh book, CLIMB, in November, 2010, with Sandy Hofmann, President of Women in Technology (WIT). With WIT, she holds the position of Program Director, Thought Leadership. Prior to her work in the publishing industry, Bonnie spent over 10 years in technology consulting, also creating three successful startups.
