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WITI Women | Kara Kapczynski

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?

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