Christine Davis
Vice President, Texas Instruments' Systems Group

To succeed, Christine Davis believes, "You have to internalize your goals, see yourself accomplishing the goals and carry yourself that way."

As vice president of Texas Instruments' Systems Group, and in her new role as manager for the electronic systems division, Davis is one of the highest ranking women in the company. In this new position, she is responsible for leadership and supervision of approximately 2,700 employees that manufacture products for the defense industry. "When you get into a senior position, you can make changes or you can hold the status quo," Davis said. "I try to lead the team in a direction, to make a difference and change things, which I find to be exciting."

Davis has fulfilled many expectations in her career. She joined TI in 1974 as a member of the technical staff and since, her assignments have included managing software development for various systems, leading a software systems engineering group and designing and developing embedded real-time software. In addition, Davis has managed TI's systems group engineering division, advanced programs division's processor software branch and held the responsibility of software engineering department manager for the defense systems and electronics group.

Davis was elected senior member of the TI technical staff in 1984, and in 1989, was named to the TI corporate task force that initiated their diversity thrust. Davis continues to serve on numerous corporate leadership teams and quality improvement teams at TI.

"TI really stretches you, and women are being included in all the opportunities," Davis says. "It is the reason I came to Texas Instruments 21 years ago. I think TI is truly a company where if you are good and your job performance is strong, you can go as far as you like." It has proven to be that way for Davis. "Opportunity has constantly been given to me, and the opportunities have never stopped," she said.

Davis, who is one of seven female TI vice presidents, advises people to "Take the job you don't think you can do, then do it."

Davis was presented YWCA's Women of Achievement award for professional success and serves on the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce Women Business Issues Advisory Council.

Davis has a husband and a 7-year-old daughter who give her love and support as she takes on the challenges of her job. "We work as a team to try to balance the work demands and the home demands," she said.