WITI
Women
Vice President and General Manager of Public Services/Retail Markets
US West
Susan
Parks became vice president and general manager of Public Services/Retail Markets
for US West in April 1998. She joined the company in October 1995 as vice president
for voice products and markets for US West Communications, holding ultimate responsibility
for a $5 billion revenue stream in consumer and business products. In February 1997
she took the post of vice president for consumer retail, heading up a $3.8 billion
a year business with 4,700 employees.
Parks came to US West after three and a half years with Zellerbach and Mead. During
her tenure as vice president of that company's Southwest business printing operation,
unit revenues grew from $140 million to $180 million per annum.
1. What was your first job in technology?
My first job in technology was at U S WEST, leading Voice Products Services.
The focus of this organization was to provide traditional products and services to
consumer and small business customers. The fact that I dealt with products I had
used as a consumer was helpful in getting started in this industry.
2. Who has been your most significant mentor? Why?
There's probably not one specific person I could list as my most significant
mentor, as I've been fortunate to receive valuable guidance and support from a number
of people along the way. I've been blessed in that respect.
3. What has been your greatest challenge and what strategies did you use to overcome
obstacles?
My greatest challenge has been in learning the communications industry, technology
and the regulatory world in which it operates. Learning to break technical issues
down to their simplest elements has helped me to persevere. Using good business sense,
listening and asking for assistance have also been helpful.
4. Who has been the most influential person in your life? Why?
My parents served as the most influential persons in my life. I thank them for
providing me with a solid education, and for teaching me the attitude that I could
accomplish anything I set my mind to do.
5. What lessons have you learned that would be valuable to women beginning their
careers in technology?
Whenever possible, one should speak from experience, ask even the most basic
questions, keep a sense of humor at all times and most importantly, become a student
of the industry. Significant value comes from understanding how the technology works
and what impact it creates.
6. What strategies do you use to maintain balance in your life?
In reference to my career, doing what I love makes my life easier. Luckily, I
don't require many breaks, and I can get by with a small amount of sleep.
In terms of my personal life, I always reserve time to do things with my family and
friends no matter how busy my schedule might seem.
Overall, I keep a sense of humor, don't take myself too seriously, and always have
something to look forward to. Whether it's a glass of wine at the end of a hard day
or a long walk on the weekend, I make sure that I have a certain amount of variety
in my life.
7. What new technology do you believe will have the most positive impact on the
world in the next 20 years? The most negative impact?
The convergence of all technologies, in my mind, will make the most positive
impact in the next 20 years. We've historically used the telephone for talking, the
TV for viewing entertainment and the PC for computing. The Internet and all these
technologies are now being merged together. Using the Internet is becoming so easy
that it will become the main venue for all communications.
Technology in general will have a negative impact on society if we aren't careful
to preserve our human interaction skills. Technology is becoming so prevalent and
easy to use that it would be easy to lose that "human touch".
On a lighter note:
1. If you could have dinner with any 2 people (living or not), who would they be?
Margaret Thatcher would be one. The other would be and one of my four grandparents
whom I never had the opportunity to meet.
2. Define success in 10 words or less.
Success is making a positive difference in society as a whole, the business environment
and in the lives of friends and family members.
3. If you could only subscribe to 3 magazines, what would they be?
Fortune, Time, Bon Appetit
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