15 Pieces of Advice from Female Technology Executives

Leading In Turbulent Times: Inspiring the Next Generation of Female Technology Executives

“Unrest. Disorder. Change. In healthcare, we find ourselves in an era of disarray that has quickly become the norm. Since March 2020, a global pandemic changed our world forever: we have been challenged and tested as technology executives in many profound ways. Embracing change that matters in times of turbulence is both an art and a science: it takes insight, stamina, drive, and determination balanced with a passion to achieve excellence rather than perfection.

In this session, moderated by Lisa Caplan, the esteemed panel of female technology executives shared information on their journey to their current roles, what is needed to assume th role of a senior leader, and what advice they would give their younger self or others when seeking an executive leadership position.”

Presented by:

  • Lisa Caplan, Executive VP, Technology and Innovation, HIMSS

  • Kathleen Linder, Chief Information Officer for CareMore, Anthem

  • Madhu Narasimhan, Executive VP and Strategy, Digital, and Innovation Chief Operations Officer, Well…

  • Amy Tong, Director and State Chief Information Officer, California Department of Technology

  • GL Zunker, Managing Director, Accenture

This session at HIMSS21 in Las Vegas was presented to a packed room of professional women. The panel members presented through a hybrid in-person/virtual model and consisted of five esteemed women sharing stories from the most turbulent times in their careers. Topics ranged from what to do when you’re the only woman in the room, how to handle a bad boss, pivoting when you have more information to make a better decision, and overcoming fears that grip us all at times.

There was a lively, heartfelt discussion during the Q&A at the end of the panel, where one audience member reminded the crowd that in our mother’s lifetimes, women were required to take a pregnancy test before a job was officially offered. It brought up a stark glimpse into how far we, as women, have come in the workplace, and how far we still have to go.

On that note, here’s the curated list of advice drawn from the discussion in support of women who want to be leaders in turbulent times.

Advice For Women Leaders in Turbulent Times:

  1. You don’t have to know everything. You just have to know enough to make a decision.

  2. Working for a bad boss never makes sense.

  3. Be prepared to reinvent yourself.

  4. Be fierce. Even if your confidence wanes, lean on your support system.

  5. Don’t be afraid to fail.

  6. Sometimes wearing a scar is an honor. Not trying at all for fear of not being perfect is a far worse outcome than sporting a scar.

  7. Confidence is not arrogance.

  8. Empathy is not a weakness.

  9. Practice does not make perfect. It makes better, and you need to keep practicing.

  10. Learn how to cook early on, so you don’t have to rely on takeout.

  11. Be continually curious.

  12. Don’t be afraid to color outside the box.

  13. Find mentors. It doesn’t need to be from a formal group. Find professional women to form a bond with.

  14. Don’t be afraid to dream bigger. If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.

  15. Don’t quit. Find a way to work through those hard days—it’s worth it.