TechLeaders: Realizing Your Vision, hosted by Google in Manhattan New York, is creating leadership breakthroughs with 52 technical women.
Gabby Silberman, SVP at CA and Head of CA Labs, is sharing his lessons learned as a male technologist. His first lesson learned: always have a plan. Every day, move toward achieving that plan. He has learned from various teachers - even the ones that showed him an example of what NOT to do. After getting many different managers in a short period of time, he drew powerful lessons for his own management style.
Other powerful lessons:
- learning how to say no.
- look for mentoring opportunities
- always stick to ethical behavior - this means speaking up
- build things to last
- your work is as good as other’s - the difference is just in their ability to “sell” it
Gabby’s principles of good management:
- work for your team - give them the resources they need to do their jobs; be transparent, honest and forthcoming, and celebrate their success.
- Manage your managers - your managers bring an important different perspective and they can help you
- Don’t be afraid to talk - but make sure to present facts as facts and ideas as ideas and put those ideas in context
- keep an eye on the bottom line
- perfect your “pitch”
Silbermann talks about his commitment to a diverse technical workforce and his lessons learned from people who were passionate change agents in organizations. In his experience participating in the Grace Hopper Celebration for multiple years, he has witnessed a shift in discourse from barriers to solutions.