WITI Women Survey Questions and Responses:
1. What was your first job in technology?
I worked for IBM on Market Street in San Francisco. It was my first
paying technology job. It was tough working a 40 hour week, and still
being a full-time computer science major at UC Berkeley, but I did it. I
worked as a systems operator for the first few months, then I discovered a
room of newer technologies for doing graphical work, so IBM changed my
position to make me the graphics center coordinator and I wrote programs
that were demonstrations for corporate clients that were looking at the
technologies.
2. Who has been your most significant mentor? Why?
I wish that I had a significant mentor, but I really haven't. This
is why I support the WITI program and try to be a good mentor to others that
I work with in the technology industry.
3. What has been your greatest challenge and what strategies did you use to overcome obstacles?
One of my greatest challenges has been to progress in management at
work while maintaining my technology architect skills and continuing to work
on technology strategy. Everyone told me that it would be too difficult.
Sometimes, people say that you "sell out" on technology if you take a role
that involves management responsibility. I have tried to prove these people
wrong. I maintain my technology skills by continuing to do Internet related
work, by participating in technology conferences and other strategy forums,
and by researching the work being done by software vendors and in
universities. To me, the role of "CTO" makes what I do best a recognized
career.
Kara Kapczynski answers these questions:
1. What was your first job in technology?
2. Who has been your most significant mentor? Why?
3. What has been your greatest challenge and what strategies
did you use to overcome obstacles?
4. Who has been the most influential person in your life?
Why?
5. What lessons have you learned that would be valuable to
women beginning their careers in technology?
6. What new technology do you believe will have the most positive
impact on the world in the next 20 years? The most negative impact?
On the lighter side:
1. If you could have dinner with any 2 people (living or not),
who would they be?
2. What was the last book you read? What books do you love to recommend?
3. If you couldn't do what you are doing now, what profession would you choose?
4. What is your definition of success?