What was your first job and what did you learn from it?

My first job was at the age of 14. I lived in New Braunfels, Texas. I was a maid in what is now a very large water park resort. I learned three things: I wanted to make more money than minimum wage, working with people was a big part of the job and I enjoy working.

What inspired you to choose your current field or the position you currently hold?

There were two primary factors that attracted me to my current position.

First, I want to be involved in high-growth, high-performance opportunities. TI is the acknowledged world leader in technology that drives the networked society - digital signal processing solutions. TI intends to steadily increase this leadership so that the words "digital signal processing solutions" and "TI" are synonymous. So, the chance to make significant contributions to this growth market was very attractive to me.

Second, in all positions I've held at TI, my primary objective has been to provide value to customers. Today, the chance to lead and the need to react are sometimes separated by just a few critical weeks. Our customers feel that pressure acutely, and my role as quality manager puts me in a position to help them get their products to market faster. My job allows me to provide leadership in our commitment to provide quality, delivery and service that puts time on the side of our customers.

Why would you encourage other women or young women and girls to choose careers in your field? What advice would you give someone who wanted to choose your career?

A career in high-technology such as digital signal processing solutions (DSPS) is sure to be fast-paced, packed with challenge and opportunities to have an impact on society through the development of solutions for the home and workplace.

My advice: go for it! Don't hesitate to tell people what you want and ask for an opportunity. The worst thing they can say is "no." Learn to handle a "no." Be consistent and persistent. Don't hesitate to go back and ask a second or third time. If you want something, you have to treat it very professionally and make a business case for why you should get what you want. There is no harm in asking more than once. Someone is going to do that job - why not you?

What motivates or inspires you on a daily basis in your field or job?

The opportunity to make a difference, push the envelope and experience the results. I like having an impact on the way work is done.

What do you see as the single most interesting element of your work?

The most interesting element is the direct interaction of the quality management team with our DSPS customers. I enjoy helping them understand and utilize our solutions to provide quality products to their customers. I like winning over the customers for TI's business growth.

Why is your field or industry important to society?

Digital signal processing solutions (DSPS) impact individuals where they live, learn, work and play. Rapid adaptation of technology is bringing people around the world together with much faster information distribution. Our industry is having an impact on daily life. As the semiconductor content rises in electronic equipment, the cost per function is decreasing about 20 percent per year and the reliability is increasing correspondingly.

What is your vision for your industry's or field's future? What are some of the exciting things to watch for in your field or industry?

We're witnessing one of the most rapid cultural transformations in history - from an industrial society to one based on knowledge. Just look at the explosion of information caused by growth of the Internet. And the pace is only going to get faster as the lives of more and more people are transformed by personalized electronics. Second, the language of electronics is changing from analog to digital. We will all be speaking the same digital language. We'll all be able to communicate anytime, anywhere. Many of those people will be joining the networked society thanks to technology provided by TI. TI clearly is the place to be in the fast-paced world of premier electronics companies. We are the undisputed leader in the emerging market of DSPS, the fundamental building blocks of the digital revolution. And we continue to extend our leadership in this area.

What values are the most important to you and what do you value in others? How do you prioritize these values in your daily life?

I value taking responsibility and leading change. Not being overwhelmed with barriers but seeing optional paths around a problem. A positive attitude and a sense of humor. I try to focus these values on the things I think will make a difference.

What do you think are the most important character traits to develop in order to succeed professionally?

Be assertive (but not aggressive), focused, open to others' ideas, and persistent. Make your opinions and needs heard, but be conscious of others. The diversity of their perspectives can be critical to the success of your project. Learn by observing, and always keep learning.

Who is your hero, mentor or person you most admire and why?

I most admire my sister, who is 15 years younger. She has a most positive attitude and is not blameful. Susan is visually impaired and legally blind. However, she has been successful in graduating from college and now is employed in our industry by Motorola.

What is your favorite book and why?

I don't have one favorite book, but I enjoy books that are fast-paced reading, adventures or mysteries when I want to "escape." Otherwise, I enjoy reading psychology, business and technical material. I also enjoy reading autobiographies about people who made a difference.

What book would you recommend to someone who knows nothing about your field or industry but would like to know more about it?

To understand the digital revolution, I recommend "Being Digital," by Nicholas Negroponte.

To understand the focus necessary to provide planned results of business strategy, I recommend "The Management Compass," by Michele Bechtell.

What technology has changed your life professionally or personally for the better?

DSPS from TI. DSPS is a high-growth market for Texas Instruments, and thus has provided tremendous professional growth for me. And, on a more individual level, DSPS technology has enabled me to be connected to other people like never before. For example, my computer modem connects to the Internet more quickly. My cellular telephone has more clarity and longer battery life. My computer's hard disk drive is more capable. TI's DSPS technology touches all of us in fundamental ways.

What are your future goals?

My primary goal is to contribute to the success of Texas Instruments. But on a more personal level, I have two primary career goals; to keep pushing myself to figure out where my limits are and to make sure I'm using all my capabilities to the fullest.

Success to me is not a title or pay rate, although I care about those things. I want to keep growing and learning, and when I feel I'm no longer contributing to the competitiveness of the business, then I will do something different.

What do you do to relax?

My hobbies are relaxing to me. They are primarily exercising (playing racquetball, jogging or biking); gardening; keeping freshwater tropical fish; and breeding of African Cichlids.