Voice of Experience: Elisse B. Walter, Commissioner, Securities and Exchange Commission

Image Courtesy sec.gov

Image Courtesy sec.gov

By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“We are still at a juncture in time where it’s very important for senior women to be a resource both for other women and men,” said Elisse B. Walter, Commissioner for the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In describing her life and career, it’s clear that Commissioner Walter cherishes her position as a role model and a leader. She enthusiastically articulates the importance of guiding other women coming up the ranks.

And with over thirty years in public service, she has experience to share. Her advice for women working to advance in their careers: “Charge ahead.”

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Voice of Experience: Simela Karasavidis, Partner, White and Case

Karasavidis_Simela_c_siloBy Elizabeth Harrin (London)

“Since I was twelve I wanted to live and work abroad,” said Simela Karasavidis in a softly-spoken Australian accent.

Karasavidis, a Partner in the Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance Practice at global law firm White & Case LLP, holds two Bachelor degrees in law and economics, as well as a Masters of Laws. She studied and did her articles in Melbourne but always wanted to live and work overseas. “Melbourne was too small, but I didn’t realise how much I would miss the beach,” she said.

She knew that if she was serious about taking a job overseas she would need to aim for a Commonwealth country, and a position came up with Linklaters, so she moved to the UK with them. “I love London now; it’s been home for twelve years,” she said.

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Movers and Shakers: Liz Cornish, Author, Leadership Expert, Executive Coach and International Adventurer

LizCornish photoBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“I’m very committed to making corporations be successful with the integration and promotion of women in leadership,” said Liz Cornish, an author, leadership expert, and the first women in the world to kayak the Zambezi River in Africa.

Describing her kayaking adventure, she said, “I talked my way across the border, navigated around crocodiles and hippos, and put myself into the complete unknown, traveling alone. If you just throw yourself in – it beats staying under the covers or on the pavement. And this goes beyond travel.”

“Risk is what you perceive it to be,” she said. “I think women hold themselves back because of unproductive fears I work with senior leaders to help them to understand the risk and move fear from a career limiter to a productive tool.”

Learning how to manage physical risk, Cornish has now soled above the Arctic Circle, led executives up Kilimanjaro, run the 100th Boston Marathon, and completed the Escape from the Rock Triathlon in San Francisco (which begins with a swim from Alcatraz Island) – just to name a few of the tough physical and emotional challenges she’s triumphed over.

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Voice of Experience: Anne Weisberg, Director, Talent, Deloitte

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weisberg photo (2)By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“I have to say I love my job,” said Anne Weisberg, a Director in Talent at Deloitte. “It’s a big part of why I feel good about my work/life fit. You have to love what you do, or the sacrifices don’t feel worth it.”

Weisberg, having worked as a lawyer and a consultant, as well as having authored two books and several studies, is an expert on the issue of work/life fit. A frequent and passionate speaker on work/life issues, the importance of gender diversity in the workplace, and other talent issues, Weisberg is working to shift the structural norms that make it difficult for women and men to achieve their full potential in the workplace.

Her career and expertise is built around her own personal experiences. She explains, “I graduated from Harvard Law School in 1985 – when I was five months pregnant. I’ve been a working mom for my entire professional life.”

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Voice of Experience: ML Krakauer, SVP, Technology Solutions and Services, EMC

ML_KrakauerBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“One of the things I would encourage is to move broadly. Get as many cross functional experiences as possible – gain multiple lenses to approach issues,” said ML Krakauer, SVP, Technology Solutions and Services at EMC.

Throughout her career, Krakauer has filled a variety of roles: positions in the field and in corporate, as a general manager, and as a functional leader. She says, “From an experience point of view it’s one of the things I count myself very lucky around.”

“One of the things I love about all of the experiences I have had is the very broad view of issues and operations,” which, Krakauer says, has allowed her to become adept at finding multiple ways to solve problems.

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Voice of Experience: Melissa Goldman, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs and Head of Credit Risk, Collateral Management and Cross Divisional Projects, Technology

Melissa_GoldmanBy Pamela Weinsaft (New York City)

Melissa Goldman, a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs and Head of Credit Risk, Collateral Management and Cross Divisional Projects within the Technology division said, “My sister – who grew up with a disability and was wheelchair-bound all of her life – was valedictorian of our high school.” Goldman credits her sister, who passed away around three years ago, with inspiring her to reach higher every day. “It was really about how she operated in the world. Not only was she the most intelligent person I knew, she was also someone who had every reason to be bitter and angry about the hand she was dealt in terms of her physical limitations.’’

Recalling her sister’s inspiring energy, passion for the work she did, and the way she pushed herself and others to always do better, Goldman said, “It is amazing the positive effect she had on the people around her in her all-too-short-lifetime – not only in her professional and academic life, but in her personal life as well. She had the kind of relationships and impact on people most of us would only dare to dream of.” Goldman noted that she tries to make her sister a part of her daily life: “She is a constant reminder of what it means to have challenges, to have tolerance and to persevere.”

Goldman, a Long Island, New York native, studied applied mathematics and computer science at Carnegie Mellon University. “I have always been interested in problem solving and puzzles – always trying to find the best way to get from here to there.” A summer program at the university after her junior year of high school led her to forgo her senior year in favor of early admission. Upon graduation, she was immediately drawn to consulting. She took an entry level job with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) as an analyst in the technical consulting practice. While she found it fun and challenging, she began to realize that it wasn’t exactly the best fit for her.

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Voice of Experience: Stephanie Fohn, CEO, WhiteHat Security

fohnBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“Really, what I am is an entrepreneur,” said Stephanie Fohn, CEO of WhiteHat Security. “I found out very early on that what I love to do is create something from nothing.”

Fohn is emphatic about her love of entrepreneurship. “I love being an entrepreneur and I feel very strongly about creating – whether creating companies, jobs, or security, which has a positive impact around the world.”

“I would like to see all women become CEOs or COOs,” she said. “The biggest thing is to find something that you love to do – and not everyone can – and stick with it. Don’t give up. It’s so challenging and rewarding.”

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Voice of Experience: Akila Krishnakumar, COO and Country Head of India for SunGard Technology Services

Akila_KK_1-1By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“I’ve had an active career. I’ve moved around a lot in India and outside,” said Akila Krishnakumar, Chief Operating Officer and Country Head, India, SunGard Technology Services. “I’ve worked for 25 years with no real break in my career. It’s just so much fun.”

Krishnakumar is energetic about work – the opportunities she’s encountered, sharing successes with her team, and now the ability to be a role model for her employees. She also emphasizes the importance of continued learning. “I firmly think you have to be open to a wide range of experiences. In every single thing you do, there is learning.”

A Love of Work

“I started my career when I was barely twenty one at Wipro. It’s large and famous now, but then it was a small company, almost a start-up.” Krishnakumar said. “It was the best grounding I could ever hope for, in my career and as a person.”

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Voice of Experience: Sheree Stomberg, Head of O&T Administration, Global Operations & Technology Chief Administrative Office, Citi

ShereeStombergBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

Sheree Stomberg, Head of O&T Administration at Citi‘s Global Operations and Technology Chief Administrative Office has dedicated her life to “three pillars:” her work, her family, and her philanthropy. She works as a change agent – as an O&T expert, a dedicated advocate for women’s networks, and fighting global hunger.

“Play full out and make sure you love what you do,” she says. “Follow your passion. If you choose this industry, make sure it’s you passion.”

Working as a Change Agent in O&T

“I have a broadly diverse career path in Financial Services,” Stomberg explained. She began her career in a UBS training program dealing with corporate finance for the oil and gas industry, then becoming senior credit policy officer, then Head of Strategic Planning for the Americas, and finally, Head of Operations and Head of Technology for North America.

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Voice of Experience: Isabelle Jenkins, Partner, Financial Services Consulting, PricewaterhouseCoopers

The Glass Hammer is proud to celebrate women in technology with a week of profiles of women at the top of the tech field. Make sure to check out our upcoming event Women in IT: Staying Technical and Getting to the Top.

IsabelleJenkinsBy Elizabeth Harrin (London)

Isabelle Jenkins took a computerised careers test at university. The results told her to join the army or become a management consultant.

“In retrospect, management consultancy would have been a sensible choice,” she says, “but no one explained what it was. The job counselling I got at university was terrible.”

Today, Jenkins is a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, in the Financial Services Consulting business – not exactly where she thought she’d be when she was job hunting after graduation, but a job she loves. “When you peel them back, seventy per cent of consulting business problems involve technology,” she explains. “You need to have a technology focus to solve problems.”

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