[an error occurred while processing this directive]
WITI


WITI Home
Feature Stories
WITI Women



































WITI Wire WITI Center WITI 4Hire WITI Wealth WITI Health WITI Magazines WITI Connections

WITI Women | Linda Drumright

4. Who has been the most influential person in your life? Why?
I have had many teachers that have influenced me greatly, but clearly the most influential people in my life have been my parents.

They taught me that there is "no such thing as 'can't'." They instilled in me that I was capable of doing anything I set my mind to. They encouraged me to take chances and simply to try my best at whatever I attempted. They supported my decisions, no matter how treacherous they perceived them, and applauded even when I achieved less than I had intended. They taught me to be self-sufficient - a survival skill that yields great accomplishments or severe isolation, if not applied well. My mother taught me how to create things out of any resources I had available - a skill I use handily at work and at home to this day. In a very tangible way, they taught me that from a vision I could create anything in my mind's eye.

Both of them modeled hard work and determination. Together, in all that we did, endurance, perseverance and end results were all that mattered.

5. What lessons have you learned that would be valuable to women beginning their careers in technology?
Lessons I'd like to impart:

  • Integrity and reputation are all that you take with you when you leave a company. Value those and you will do well.

  • Work for companies that value skills, competence and contribution. Glass ceilings do not exist at such companies. Life is short, work there.

  • Focus on what you need to do to be a better person, a better contributor to the company and to society. All the rest will follow.

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?
Broadband communications will have a huge impact on the efficiency and accessibility of information. Internet effectiveness will be positively impacted in all areas - work, play, life and learning. The risk, of course, is that as we become more and more dependent on such technologies (as we will in the course of 20 years), we will become more and more inept in human interactions and personal relationships. The challenge is to manage that.

Linda Drumright 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?

Click here for printer-friendly version of this article.

For more 'WITI Women' articles, go to: http://www.witi.com/wire/witiwomen/

For all the latest news and information on women in technology, visit http://www.witi.com


Copyright© 1989 - 2000 WITI
All rights reserved.