During the Data Science for All: Women's Summit finale virtual event last week we heard such incredible advice from all of our speakers. Here are just a few of the most powerful takeaways we captured:
The real power of choice does not come from our ability to pick from the best options. The real power of choice comes from our ability to go out into the world, look at what we want, and start to create and construct those meaningful culminations. That's how we're able to go from who we are today, to who we want to be tomorrow. Don't ever be afraid to ask yourself those big questions and pursue those dreams relentlessly - this is how we become our most beautiful and singular selves.
- Sheena Iyengar, Best-selling author of "The Art of Choosing", TED speaker, and S.T. Lee Professor of Business, Columbia Business School
If you're feeling nervous or insecure when you're taking on something new or impactful, that's normal. But that doesn't mean you're an imposter in your job. Women tend to be quite harsh on themselves and their own confidence levels. Anytime you feel the need to put yourself down, I would say to you: Stop it!
- Gunjan Kedia, Vice Chairman of Wealth Management & Investment Services, U.S. Bank
Trying to be too perfect all the time can actually hurt your career. I ended up worrying constantly about too many things and kind of missing the big picture. I needed to get comfortable being uncomfortable. So harness your bravery, and don't be afraid of criticism - feedback is a gift.
- Sara Baxter Orr, Global Head, CFO Practice, Anaplan
When trying something completely new, don't sell yourself short. We're smart people and if we put our minds to it, we can figure it out. We can get it done. We can bring in the people who we need to in an expert space.
I have learned so much from individuals in different companies, in different walks of life. That's where some of my best ideas come from. So I'd encourage you to carve out the time to go to the forums and conferences, to find places where you have kindred spirits that maybe are different from you, but where you can connect and think differently. Building those relationships is so important.
- Wendy Harrington, Head of Nuveen Labs
Dreams come in an endless supply pack. We think each discarded dream is a failure, as something that will make us feel bad. But if you ask the bigger, deeper question, why did I dream this dream in the first place, you learn something incredibly useful about yourself.
- Sheena Iyengar, Best-selling author of "The Art of Choosing", TED speaker, and S.T. Lee Professor of Business, Columbia Business School
When you come into a company, have respect for people who have built the business before you. Seek to understand why the business was successful without you, and then introduce your own ideas to it. You'll be more successful in getting your strategy across and you'll learn a lot from it.
- Gunjan Kedia, Vice Chairman of Wealth Management & Investment Services, U.S. Bank
The best advice I received from a mentor early on in my career is that your word is your bond. Every single day you need to live by that, even if it becomes painful. I still remember that to this day and it's become an important part of how I operate.
- Lisa Schirf, Managing Director and Global Head of Data Strategy
Give yourself your own quotas around work-life balance and self-care, and make sure that you stick to your own quota to avoid burning out.
- Sara Baxter Orr, Global Head, CFO Practice, Anaplan
When you become a manager you actually have to give up a lot of what you are most good at, and delegate. It is much better to take 3x the time to enable someone to do the job as well as you can do, than doing it for them. Once you've taught them, you've become a good manager. Once you can delegate and empower your teams, you can then focus skills needed for the next phase of your career which is leadership, and creating vision and culture.
- Gunjan Kedia, Vice Chairman of Wealth Management & Investment Services, U.S. Bank
My career advice is to think about what fascinates you, and where you will learn what you need to in order to do those things. Find someone to work for who is constantly innovative and looking to improve, because that's how you'll ensure you keep learning and growing too.
- Matthew Granade, Chief Market Intelligence Officer and Managing Director, Point72 Asset Management
Check out our YouTube playlist see the full videos from our Keynote speakers at the event, including Sheena Iyengar's talk titled 'How To Dream':
Thank you again to all of the amazing speakers who joined us at the Women's Summit finale event. We remain inspired.
