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

My first job was as a circular delivery person at the tender age of eleven. I learned quite a bit; I learned that hard work was both profitable and fun. It was eight hours a week of back breaking work at two cents per circular, but I made 16 dollars every month doing it, which was more money than anyone I knew who was my age. I learned that doing a good job was rewarding in and of itself. At the worst - when it was freezing out, my toes were numb, and the circulars were heavy, I still enjoyed the sense of accomplishment of doing a good job - even when no one was watching. I also learned, after my employers doubled my route because of my reliability, that I could pay my friends to help me, and it was even more fun.

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

I have many many mentors and heroes. Judith Liffick, my mother, for one - someone who was an independent thinker in the days when that was not easily accepted. Some of the really terrific teachers I had in school (too many to name) were supportive and helpful. Dave and Winnie Alcorn believed in me early on - encouraged me and gave me excellent advice. Jack Bradt was an entrepreneur-in-residence at Lehigh University when I went to school there, and he inspired me. Pete Musser, whom I met through Jack Bradt, helped me out and made me feel that I could do anything. Ray Melcher introduced me to running a company and being a leader. Kevin Wren taught me how to get along in a corporate environment. Eric Davis, my current boss, is also terrific and has much to teach me about corporations and inspiring people. Jim Shaner is a long time client, and someone I have always admired; I hope I'm half as active as he is when I am his age (though I know I will never be as talented). Then, of course, there are many of whom I've never met, but reading about them has spurred me on to some action to better myself. Ben Franklin, Susan B. Anthony, Abigail Adams, John Lucht, Shoshana Zuboff, Grace Hopper, Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard, Sam Walton, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Dale Carnegie, Stephen Covey, Isaac Asimov, countless others. There are hundreds of people with valuable lessons to teach.

What is your favorite book?

I love way too many books to name any one of them my favorite. I have always been an avid reader, both fiction and non-fiction. My favorite fiction authors are Dick Francis and Marion Zimmer Bradley. And no one can beat Isaac Asimov in both the fiction and non-fiction department. The book that helped me the most in forwarding my career was Rites of Passage at 100,000+ by John Lucht. But if I was forced to choose just one book, one that inspired me more than any other, I would choose Ben Franklin's autobiography. It is amazing how applicable Ben's rules for living are, even today.

What advances in your field do you envision over the next 10 years?

Ten years is a very long time. If you had asked me back in 1989 what the world would be like in 1999, I'm not sure I would have given an accurate answer. I was still worrying about how to get beyond the 640K barrier in DOS in 1989. I didn't even get on the Internet until February of 1992 (although I must admit, within hours of getting on and surfing a bit with Mosaic, I knew that the "Web" was going to change everything).

But - purely as a guess - I believe that ten years from now the Internet will be on 40% of the world's desktops both at home and and at work (and 85% of the desktops in the USA). Most of those connections will be wireless (which means that "desktop" won't mean a physical desk, but rather a mobile work unit of various types and sizes). Just as the 640K barrier disappeared, the bandwidth barrier will disappear within the next ten years. Video on computer will be as pervasive as text and graphics are today.

Most shopping will be done differently - most purchasing will be done utilizing the Internet and online credit/debit accounts (with "cash" being managed using SmartCard technology). 95% of the stock trading going on will use a common infrastructure (more Internet applications). Interfaces will have expanded into voice and video instead of just keyboards. Our computers will see, hear, and speak. Interpretation will still be very primative, but it will change the way we interact with our computers.

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

The people. People are fascinating and magnificent. People's reaction to technology is an unlimited source of interest to me. Working beyond the difficulties and limitations, both technical and psychological, in order to get the most out of technology is the most challenging aspect of my work. I love to see the business requirements, the human requirements, and the technical requirements all come together and get solved synergistically. When it works, it is just amazing.

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment?

At the present time, I'm proudest of building, and running, a successful business for seven years. There is something wonderful in providing an opportunity for others to make their livelihood, and to grow an idea into reality. I'm also proud of the changes that I've influenced at my present and previous employer. At MBNA my team made significant progress in some very specific areas of capital and depreciation management, enabling better funding decisions, planning and project prioritization. At First USA I've made leadership contributions in specific projects such as Y2K, data center relocation projects, data warehousing projects, and project management in general.

What was your greatest challenge and what did you learn from it?

My greatest challenge was, and still is, learning what I need to do to inspire and lead people. I have a lot of good thoughts and ideas. I make fairly good decisions because I can interpret hundreds of complex factors and see which ones are the critical ones. I have dogged determination, and often persevere beyond all others. But at the same time, I have to slow down and pay more attention to bringing out the best in other people. Part of that is finding the right place where my talents are most appreciated - and sometimes that's a challenge. Not everyone is as ambitious as I am, or sees things quite the way I do. Not everyone recognizes the value of wading in and just getting things done. I have to deal with a lot of road blocks put in my way. To get around many of them I need to spend more time listening and encouraging others, and that's not always the easiest thing to do. With the help of many other people, I've made a lot of progress, and I've seen firsthand how changing the way I approach people translates into accomplishments far beyond what I personally can achieve. But it's still always a challenge.

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

Well, I've had a lot of "fields" (teacher, entrepreneur, enterprise network management consultant, bank executive); specific information on how to be a success in each one would be too much for this profile. But I can give some advice to young women who want to enter any field. First, don't shy away from making mistakes - everyone makes them - and it's the best way to learn quickly. It's how you deal with your mistakes that separates the winners from the also-rans. Consider every road block, every bad day, a learning opportunity.

Second, don't sell yourself short. Don't listen to anyone who hints that you should give up, that something is not worth the effort. Don't ever give in to subtle dismissal of your thoughts or your abilities. Be as ambitious as you want - and ignore anyone who thinks otherwise. It's okay to have a big ego, and to think well of yourself. Everyone has something to offer, everyone has a purpose in life. It's your right, and your responsibility, to utilize your talents to the fullest, so figure out what those talents are and take advantage of them.