1. If you could have dinner with any 2 people (living or not), who would they be?
For a fancy dinner, I would love to sit down with Carly Fiorina, the first female president and CEO of a Dow 30 company. It would be intriguing to learn her views on success, challenge, leadership and technological innovation.

As an enjoyable casual dinner, an evening with Mahatma Gandhi would be invigorating. He was responsible for rallying the nation of India and leading a non-violence movement that led to India's independence in 1947. Understanding new ways of motivating and leading people in support of a single idea would be a useful education for anything in life. Beyond that, his keen wit would make for quick repartee on a number of subjects.

2. Define success in 10 words or less.
Success is personal, it is a measure of what you set out to achieve.

3. If you could only subscribe to 3 magazines, what would they be?
Tough question. I read all the time! I would choose to keep my subscriptions to Red Herring for cutting-edge information on start-ups and business, Information Week for technology updates, and Better Homes and Gardens for my green thumb.

Sonia Bhanot 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 strategies do you use to maintain balance in your 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?

On the lighter side:
1. If you could have dinner with any 2 people (living or not), who would they be?
2. Define success in 10 words or less.
3. If you could only subscribe to 3 magazines, what would they be?