Fairygodboss Of The Week Alice Katwan

Fairygodboss Of The Week Alice Katwan Our Fairygodboss of the Week is a top Silicon Valley abverkauf executive who prioritizes work-life balance both for her and her team. Alice Katwan leads a team of more than 100 employees and is focused on fostering womens career growth. Shes paving the way for female tech executives while crushing the stereotypes that have held working women back for too long. Fairygodboss of the Week Alice KatwanSenior Vice President of North America Sales, GenesysSan Francisco, CAFGBTell us about your career. How did you get to where you are now?AK Im Senior Vice President of North America Sales at Genesys, a global omnichannel customer engagement company. What attracted me to sale is that working hard and smart not long hours determines your success. Also that youre judged objectively based on numbers, not on someones opinion. I figured this out early on, back when I welches selling window treatments at Montgomery Wards in high school, and then bathroom and kitchen fixtures at a home design store in college. After graduation, I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time Silicon Valley. Ive been selling enterprise software for 20 years, working at Red Hat, BEA Systems and Network Appliance before joining Genesys.FGB What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?AKProfessionally, leading a sales team of over 100. More than a fourth are women, including a vice president and two directors which crushes the myth that its impossible to hire talented women in technology. Personally, becoming a badass executive while raising my three sons, ages 13, 17 and 18.FGB What is a challenge that youve faced and overcome?AK Trying to do it all as a working mom literally made me sick. To get my health back on track, I had to change my concept of what it means to be a good parent and accept that its okay to get help at home. My advice for moms now dont bake cookies for classroom parties. Hit the sign-up sheet early and rock the paper plates. FGBWhat is the 1 career tip youd like to share with other women who want to have successful careers like you?AK Speak up. Dont assume that you will get what you want or deserve by performing well. You have to ask.FGB Why do you love where you work? AK Its all about the culture. My team works hard and plays harder. We have fun, collaborate and have each others backs all while generating 70 percent of the companys North American revenue.FGB Who is YOUR Fairygodboss? Why? AK Jo Miller, founder of Be Leaderly. Through training, speaking and writing, she has helped thousands of women grow as leaders, especially in historically male-dominated professions. When Jo talks (she has a charming Aussie accent), shes so inspiring and positive that you cant help but believe in yourself.FGB What do you do when youre not working?AKI cook for my family every night unless Im traveling. Growing up, the dinner table was the epicenter of family life, and thats what I want for our kids. There will always be more work to do, but being a kid is a one-time deal. Making dinner gives me a stopping point. Its my line in the sand for work-life balance.FGB If you could have dinner with one famous person dead or alive who would it be?AK Katherine Johnson, one of the African-American mathematicians who inspired Hidden Figures. Shes 99 years old, born on August 26 Womens Equality Day.Lightning Round FGB What is your karaoke song?AKAmerican Pie by Don McClean.FGB What is your favorite movie?AKThe Pursuit of Happyness with Will Smith. Its based on entrepreneur Chris Gardners memoir about being homeless with his young son for nearly a yearFGB What book would you take with you on a desert island?AKMindset by Carol Dweck, a must-read if youre a manager or a parent. It will change the way you think about success. And if youre going to survive on a desert island, you definitely need grit.FGB What is your shopping vice?AK Handbags and shoes. I like to have options.What would you buy if you won the lottery?AKI would buy a beachfront vacation home in Manhattan Beach, CA.Fairygodboss is all about women helping other women - so each week, we celebrate a woman who made a difference in another womans career. Is there a woman who has made a difference in your career?Celebrate her and thank herbynominating her here.