Voice of Experience: Sony Rusteberg, Senior Executive, Global Outsourcing and Local Delivery, Accenture

By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“Women have the ability to demonstrate strength and the confidence to grow,” said Sony Rusteberg, Senior Executive, Global Outsourcing and Local Delivery at Accenture.

Rusteberg began her career at Accenture seventeen years ago, and has steadily climbed the ranks. She has dealt with personal hardships and joys, and credits the company for its support as she battled ovarian cancer, had children, and made partner in a short period of time.

“To be confident you have to believe in yourself,” she advised.

A Career Path in IT and Business

Rusteberg attended Ohio State, and went to work for a healthcare software corporation, in the area of IT and business. She said, “It was probably in the two years that I was there that I learned my true calling – to help companies with their business needs as they are tied to IT.”

Soon afterward she moved on to Accenture – and has now been with the company for seventeen years. For the first twelve years of her career, Rusteberg worked externally with clients, in infrastructural technology, mainly in the pharmaceuticals market. “It’s my true passion to work with clients to utilize technology to support their business needs.” The majority of her projects, she said, were in the mergers and acquisitions space. “I worked with companies on their 100-day plan – how to merge successful companies together from a business and technology perspective.”

After twelve years, about the time she had her first child, Rusteberg moved into internal role at Accenture, in the company’s CIO organization. “I appreciated this experience because it enabled me to have a different view of the tech world,” she explained. “I have learned how to run IT in a business – being a client, rather than consulting for a company.”

Currently Rusteberg is working closely with Accenture’s outsourcing practice. “With its recent growth, the Outsourcing business relies on IT as an enabler. I really like partnering with our Outsourcing leaders to figure out how IT can help their business grow.”

She continued, “Accenture continues to be a frontrunner in supporting outsourcing, and it’s exciting to be a part of it.”

Rusteberg said that making partner is one of her proudest professional achievements. “It’s a big achievement to prove to myself I could do it – even with the other things going on in my life.”

Dealing with Personal Hardship at Accenture

“In my seventeen years at Accenture, I’ve had many ups and downs,” she said. “I had ovarian cancer within my first two years of joining the firm. But Accenture was phenomenal. They gave me the flexibility to work from home, and still get treatment, and then afterward they were still flexible. Accenture was extremely supportive of my personal needs. And it made me want to stay.”

She continued, “And after ten years I had challenges having children with a history of cancer. During the following four years, I was able to adjust my work life to accomplish everything I needed to do in order to have children. I feel very fortunate we were able to have children and I was able to accomplish my career objectives, including being promoted to partner.”

Rusteberg credits Accenture’s dedication to work/life balance as one of the reasons she’s stayed with the company for so long. She said, “Since I came to work internally, I’ve had another child and I’m still able to deliver back to the company. I’ve actually also been very active in women’s diversity and I’m the national leader for our Asian American group. I sponsor and mentor diverse people – women and Asians – on navigating their careers and having balance.”

Advice for Women in Technology

“You really have to take control of your career,” Rusteberg said. “You have to play to your strengths. In the junior ranks, you try to do everything well – and that’s not always possible. If you focus on playing to your strengths you can get a lot further.”

“You still don’t see a lot of women in technology. When I started, I had probably one or two female executives at the table. But every year we have added more women technology leaders. Focus on becoming an expert in an area you love. There is not gender bias in technology but there is a bias for high performers. High performers will thrive in any environment.”

Rusteberg advised women new to the industry to spend time networking and to think about working smart. She said, “To be impactful is more important than working more hours. This is key for success.”

She also advised young women to keep a broad vision of the corporate ladder. “I think the world is changing and I don’t think ladders are really the right idea – think of it more as a highway. There will be on- and off-ramps to get to where you want to get to. It’s okay to take off ramps, to take time to develop yourself. It will only help you in the future.”

She advised women who are advancing in their careers to really focus on their impact. “It’s very easy to get overwhelmed when there is more on your plate. Focus on your impact but be true to yourself on what’s important to you. It will help you be successful,” she said.

Rusteberg shared the best advice she has ever received. “It’s about making sure you have passion and you enjoy what you are doing. Success will follow you.”

In Her Personal Time

Balancing work and family is extremely important to Rusteberg. Outside the workplace, Rusteberg spends a lot of time volunteering for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. “I also love to run, play tennis, and read,” she said. As a family, we love to do activities outdoors.