4. Who has been the most influential person in your life? Why?
here really hasn't been one sole person I'd say has been most influential in my life although I learn a lot from a lot of people and aim to do so. I've tried hard to not be influenced by what other people do and think, rather to go with my own gut instinct and learn from every experience, both good and bad. If I had to choose one person though, my grandmother would certainly top the list. She is the one person who embodied every positive quality out there and is someone I strive to emulate every day of my life.

5. What lessons have you learned that would be valuable to women beginning their careers in technology?
I've learned that there are tons of opportunities to break into technology-related fields for those women who are innovative and who are willing to take risks and pursue their goals. I recently attended a major conference on travel technology and was astounded by the low number of women there compared to men. This just gives further validation to my thought that the opportunities are huge, women just need to be brave enough to break into a field that has been heavily dominated by men and look at their gender as an advantage rather than a hinderance. This is a business ripe for innovation and that will be key going forward.

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?
I think the wireless web will be huge, and it won't take 20 years to get there. Already, people who are checking their email from their cell phones and PDAs are totally addicted. Just imagine how great it will be to turn on your computer anywhere and connect without wires. As for the most negative, I think we run the risk of invading people's privacy by being able to use technology in ways it wasn't intended for - such as personal data collection, etc.

Stacy H. Small 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?