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

My first job was at Harvard Business School writing the software for the business game that the second year MBA students play. It was a great job! I got to work with the professors who would teach me about their speciality, like how the bond market works, and I would figure out how to code it into the game. One weekend I called the help desk for the computer we were using. They told me they didn't have anyone there at the time who could help me but they gave me the number of a really knowledgeable user who might be able to help. It was my number, so I learned I knew something.

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

Grace Hopper, inventor of Cobol, first famous computer career-woman.

What is your favorite book?

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley; the King Arthur legend told from the women's points of view.

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

I'm working now in the eBusiness space of companies doing business over the Internet. Ten years is way too far out. I think radical advances are made in this area every year. One of my favorite things is the impact the Internet is having by giving people more free time. One busy mother of three told me she did all her Christmas shopping at eToys at night after the kids went to bed. It was the best Christmas she ever had. I'd like to have Internet business get to the point where we never spend any time "running errands" but instead do it all over the Internet in seconds.

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

Making people successful. I love to coach a team through the development of a difficult, breakthrough product or to coach an individual in a new, challenging role. It can be life-altering for people to accomplish something they didn't think they could do.

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment?

My greatest accomplishment was working at a startup company in Boston called Camex. We were inventing a new software product to typeset newspaper display ads electronically. We were using existing technology but in a new way. It was really tough and there was no one to ask for help; no books to read. The four of us had to figure it out for ourselves. Well, we did it and then sold it to the Boston Globe who used it for years. It was enormously satisfying.

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

My greatest challenge was learning to speak in front of groups. I am shy and used to get tongue-tied and forget what I had to say in front of groups. I took a new position at Lotus that wasn't expected to include public speaking but customers kept asking to hear from me. At first I tried to get other people to speak but more requests kept coming in so I gave in and started doing them. I ended up with a one hour speaking engagement to 10 to 50 people three to five times a week. At first I was terrible at it because I was so nervous but I gradually got better and kept refining my talks and techniques. After a year of it I was pretty good. Since then I've had more practice and I can now comfortably speak in front of groups. Gaining the skill was worth the effort. I learned that no matter how tough the challenge, just keep doing it till you get it.

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

Don't worry about the money or title to start out with. Join a company doing leading-edge technology and do everything you can get your hands on. Learn lots of software languages and work in many parts of software development from tools to applications. Don't shy away from taking on something you don't know how to do. And find a mentor.