Inspiring the Next Generation of Giants
By Mandy Dhaliwal, Chief Marketing Officer
It’s been a big (BIG) year for women.
Economist Claudia Goldin won a Nobel prize - while becoming the first woman ever to become a tenured professor at Harvard.
Taylor Swift’s The Eras tour grossed over a billion dollars when she re-recorded her sold-off catalog - literally reclaiming her own voice.
Michaela Jaé Rodriguez made history as the first trans actor to win a Golden Globe.
The list goes on and on.
The world is wonderfully starting to see the awesome power of women in all sectors of business and life.
I truly believe that getting advice from giants like these might inspire the next generation of women to stand on their broad shoulders and see further. The world is wonderfully starting to see the awesome power of women in all sectors of business and life.
I have the incredible fortune of working with three such giants at Nutanix - Anja Hamilton our Chief People Officer, Rukmini Sivaraman our Chief Financial Officer, and Foong Peng Chan, our Director of Human Resources for APAC.
I spoke with these women to ask them the questions I wish I had answers to when I was first starting out. I’ve included my perspective too.
So, to the next generation of women leaders – this is for you:
Anja Hamilton, Chief People Officer at Nutanix
What advice would you give to a young woman starting their career in technology?
“When I started my career in technology, I was afraid to ask ‘dumb questions.’ It cost me a tremendous amount of energy to get answers through tedious inconspicuous research. I’d say, don’t waste your energy and be curious and ask many questions. You’ll learn so much faster and your growth mindset will likely be noticed and rewarded. Also, get out of your comfort zone and be ready for opportunities. The hungrier you are, the more you will learn and grow.”
What female leader in the world do you admire most?
“There are many female leaders I admire, and Oprah Winfrey is one of them. Oprah is an incredibly hard-working businesswoman, talk show host, actress, television producer, and author. Her philanthropic endeavors are focused on women's and girl’s education, health, and racial equity. Oprah wields influence in philanthropy not only because of her wealth but also because of her gift for inspiring others. Success isn’t just about what you accomplish in your life, it’s about what you inspire others to do.”
What does the future hold for female leaders? Are you optimistic or pessimistic?
“According to Catalyst (a non-profit organization focused on gender equity and workplace inclusion), in 2021, the number of women in senior management roles globally hit 31%, which is the highest number ever recorded. In that same year, 26% of all CEOs and managing directors were women compared to only 15% in 2019 and Fortune Global 500 reported an all-time high of 23 women CEOs, including six women of color. I am encouraged by this trend and do believe the future is bright for women who choose the management and leadership path. Let’s continue making great progress together."
Rukmini Sivaraman, Chief Financial Officer at Nutanix
What advice would you give a young woman starting their career in technology?
“Early in your career, attitude is paramount, everything else can be learned. Take ownership, care about the outcome and the impact your work is having, be helpful where you can and be curious to learn.”
What female leader in the world do you admire most?
“I am going to interpret this to highlight several female leaders; something from each of these leaders resonates with me. Mother Teresa, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Jane Goodall, Marie Curie, Helen Keller, Rosa Parks, Venus and Serena Williams, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and so many more. Each of these leaders made a profound impact in their field by taking a stand, being curious or passionate or disciplined or by having the courage to do something different. I find that in the workplace, it’s better to find what you can learn from different people (rather than just one) and adapt that to your aspirations and needs.”
What does the future hold for female leaders? Are you optimistic or pessimistic?
“I am optimistic about what the future holds for female leaders – we seem to be making progress. We all can be doing more to create a more equitable world.”
Foong Peng Chan, Human Resources Director for APAC at Nutanix
What advice would you give a young woman starting their career in technology?
“The world of technology is fast paced and constantly evolving. Every change presents an opportunity. Embrace a growth mindset. Be open to learning, keep yourself abreast of market trends and technology developments, and be willing to change and adapt your approach when required. Never be afraid to ask the question ‘Why’. Develop your systemic thinking skills to enable you to be comprehensive in your analysis and thought process, giving due consideration to all impacted functions and stakeholders to ensure solutions address their needs and those of the business.”
What female leader in the world do you admire most?
“I admire Sheryl Sandberg. During her time as Chief Operating Officer at Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook), she revolutionized advertising and developed the company into a billion-dollar business. Beyond her successful career, I admire her passion for humanitarian causes and the strong resilience she demonstrated as a parent and a widower after her first husband passed on in 2015. One of my favorite take-aways from her is the importance of expressing daily gratitude. We have a choice in how we face difficult situations and choose to handle them.”
What does the future hold for female leaders? Are you optimistic or pessimistic?
“I see a future that holds bountiful opportunities for a workforce that emphasizes skills and competence over qualifications, and that recognizes the need for more awareness around diversity and inclusion. It’s up to each of us to contribute to building this future, while balancing the need to be pragmatic in our choices. We are often presented with competing demands at work and outside of work. It is important to be clear on our priorities and to focus on what matters most to us, to avoid being spread too thin.”
Mandy Dhaliwal, Chief Marketing Officer at Nutanix
What advice would you give a young woman starting their career in technology?
“The most important thing to remember, that you must carry forward throughout your entire career, is a simple idea that can be hard to live by: you belong. Self-doubt and imposter syndrome simply slow you down. You have ideas, a perspective, and skills that are deeply valued. Show self-doubt the door. You belong in that meeting, your voice belongs in the conversation, and you belong in tech. To that point, learn as much as you can. Read industry publications, learn the company’s products, build customer relationships, study the business. As your knowledge grows, so will your confidence. Another great way to build that confidence is to put yourself out there. Work with different teams, and identify mentoring opportunities. Business is a team sport, and every player is valuable.”
What female leader in the world do you admire most?
“While I deeply appreciate the vision of global leaders like Julie Sweet (CEO of Accenture) and Diane Jurgens (former CIO of Disney), I equally value the strategic thinking and grit of the women I work with and know. I truly admire qualities in women from all walks of life. But if I had to pick just one, it's Indra Nooyi, the former chair and CEO of PepsiCo. She stopped a bid to break up PepsiCo, nearly doubled sales, and introduced healthier products and environmentally friendly practices. She is the definition of authenticity, humility, vision, strategy and execution. I think I admire women like her and the women around me so much because I see my Mom in them. She is another female force of nature that defied the odds and achieved great things as a strong business person and all around exceptional human being.”
What does the future hold for female leaders? Are you optimistic or pessimistic?
“It’s not about optimism or pessimism; we have the power to manifest our own reality. We are increasingly in charge of our own destiny. Women are savvy, creative, strategic and do not give up. I have always believed in the power of women and feel personally gratified by helping women rise and thrive.”
Thank you, Anja, Rukmini, and Foong Peng!
This incredible discussion begs an important question for you to contemplate - Which female leader inspires YOU?
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