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

My first job was as a programmer working for Texas Instruments in England. As a mathematician, I was not sure which field I wanted to go into (since I had always wanted to be a pilot and then discovered it was not practical for me!) and I joined TI more through luck than judgement. However, once there I quickly developed a passion for electronic design automation (EDA). At TI I was exposed to the collision of software tools and semiconductor design and how extremely technical software is one of the critical breakthroughs needed to design ICs, which are changing the ways humanity lives. The fascination for EDA has stayed with me, especially now living in the Silicon Valley where these two technologies drive our innovation.

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

My father is my hero. He believes you can be anything you want to be and that hard work, integrity and intellect are the ingredients to success. He is smart, loving, very successful and self made, and raised my sister and me to believe we have no limits. I must add that also could not do what I do without the love and support of my husband who also believes in equal opportunity and lives with the results (good and bad!) every day.

What are you most proud of (either professionally or personally)?

The love I see in my children. My children are joyful and very loving. They embrace life with passion and confidence and express their love and affection to our extended family, their friends and teachers. I am proud that my husband and I have taught our children to love completely since I believe it is the greatest attribute a human being can have.

What advice would you give to young women who want to enter your field?

Set goals and stay focused on your goals. Develop a love of what you do. Don't let anyone intimidate you or underestimate you but know yourself really well. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Develop mentoring relationships so there are people around you who can counsel you who know you well.

What is your favorite book?

"Interview with the Vampire" by Anne Rice. This series of books capture the breadth of human experience in a rich, passionate form. Life and death, incredible love and deep hatred, light and darkness, spirituality and physical experience - all with no real answers, like life itself.

What is your favorite Web site?

Amazon.com. As a working mother and an avid reader I find Amazon a tremendous, efficient resource. I can quickly find books I want, and have fun browsing to get new ideas - all without leaving the house!

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

Career counseling. I believe people achieve more professionally, and in personal satisfaction, if they set out career goals and work towards them. After 8-10 years of working, many people have enough knowledge of their ambitions and skills to work out clear career goals but need a foil, someone to talk to and to ask questions of them to help them sort out what steps to take. This is a process I find interesting and rewarding.

What was your darkest moment (professionally) and what did you learn from it?

The day I learned that I did not have the respect of someone at work who I greatly admired and wished to have respect me, and to be pregnant at the same time. The blessing, and the curse, was that I had to stay in the situation, learn from it and work it out with the other person. My learning was that some of the person's loss of respect of me was deserved, and I set out to change my behavior.

What do you do to relax?

I go to church to get centered, which then relaxes me. I reduce stress when I keep the elements of my life in balance and contemplating the teachings of my church helps me keep focus on my long term goals and values.