good morning everyone I’m so glad to be here thank you so much
I’m so glad to be here thank you so much
I’m so glad to be here thank you so much so I’m going to talk a few minutes about
so I’m going to talk a few minutes about
so I’m going to talk a few minutes about this crazy thing called my career and
this crazy thing called my career and
this crazy thing called my career and why it’s so crazy and why it’s been so
why it’s so crazy and why it’s been so
why it’s so crazy and why it’s been so incredible and hopefully from this you
incredible and hopefully from this you
incredible and hopefully from this you can appreciate why my tagline is against
can appreciate why my tagline is against
can appreciate why my tagline is against all odds so first of all I am a woman
all odds so first of all I am a woman
all odds so first of all I am a woman okay so do notice and I am someone who
okay so do notice and I am someone who
okay so do notice and I am someone who at a very very early age knew that I
at a very very early age knew that I
at a very very early age knew that I would probably be a leader some people
would probably be a leader some people
would probably be a leader some people thought I was bossy
thought I was bossy
thought I was bossy some people thought I might have been
some people thought I might have been
some people thought I might have been brutal and a little selfish my parents
brutal and a little selfish my parents
brutal and a little selfish my parents would say I probably boss them around
would say I probably boss them around
would say I probably boss them around for most of my young days now why would
for most of my young days now why would
for most of my young days now why would I bring that up and think that that is
I bring that up and think that that is
I bring that up and think that that is something so important for all of you to
something so important for all of you to
something so important for all of you to know because as a result of being a girl
know because as a result of being a girl
know because as a result of being a girl and as a result of having that kind of
and as a result of having that kind of
and as a result of having that kind of interest in other people and trying to
interest in other people and trying to
interest in other people and trying to influence and shape and execute that was
influence and shape and execute that was
influence and shape and execute that was not considered something that was of
not considered something that was of
not considered something that was of high value it was considered something
high value it was considered something
high value it was considered something that I needed to sort of repress and
that I needed to sort of repress and
that I needed to sort of repress and push down a little bit it may be nicely
push down a little bit it may be nicely
push down a little bit it may be nicely file but not one to bring out in the
file but not one to bring out in the
file but not one to bring out in the open
open
open I am a a my parents were
I am a a my parents were
I am a a my parents were first-generation Americans they were
first-generation Americans they were
first-generation Americans they were entrepreneurs my mother was lucky enough
entrepreneurs my mother was lucky enough
entrepreneurs my mother was lucky enough to not have to work after my father and
to not have to work after my father and
to not have to work after my father and his brothers took their company public
his brothers took their company public
his brothers took their company public and then took it private and it was an
and then took it private and it was an
and then took it private and it was an entrepreneur immigrant total feeling of
entrepreneur immigrant total feeling of
entrepreneur immigrant total feeling of wondrousness for the family that we had
wondrousness for the family that we had
wondrousness for the family that we had and what we were able to do but
and what we were able to do but
and what we were able to do but simultaneously I was this girl who was
simultaneously I was this girl who was
simultaneously I was this girl who was really interested in business and really
really interested in business and really
really interested in business and really interested in all these things and I was
interested in all these things and I was
interested in all these things and I was told it’s not for you it’s not for you
told it’s not for you it’s not for you
told it’s not for you it’s not for you you need to find another pathway well
you need to find another pathway well
you need to find another pathway well fast forward in high school right in my
fast forward in high school right in my
fast forward in high school right in my senior year in high school I dove great
senior year in high school I dove great
senior year in high school I dove great high school I have friends from New York
high school I have friends from New York
high school I have friends from New York that’s where I’m from originally that
that’s where I’m from originally that
that’s where I’m from originally that absolutely are still a part of my life
absolutely are still a part of my life
absolutely are still a part of my life and in a strong piece of my fabric well
and in a strong piece of my fabric well
and in a strong piece of my fabric well fast forward senior year the guidance
fast forward senior year the guidance
fast forward senior year the guidance counselor then looked at my parents and
counselor then looked at my parents and
counselor then looked at my parents and said you know what don’t waste time on
said you know what don’t waste time on
said you know what don’t waste time on her going to college she’s smart she
her going to college she’s smart she
her going to college she’s smart she doesn’t work hard she doesn’t come to
doesn’t work hard she doesn’t come to
doesn’t work hard she doesn’t come to classes all the time she lives a highly
classes all the time she lives a highly
classes all the time she lives a highly social another word for partying life I
social another word for partying life I
social another word for partying life I was well-read I was a great writer I
was well-read I was a great writer I
was well-read I was a great writer I didn’t do that well in school and they
didn’t do that well in school and they
didn’t do that well in school and they told my parents don’t send her to
told my parents don’t send her to
told my parents don’t send her to college there’s no need she can learn
college there’s no need she can learn
college there’s no need she can learn some sort of occasional skill now I was
some sort of occasional skill now I was
some sort of occasional skill now I was outraged I thought how dare you label me
outraged I thought how dare you label me
outraged I thought how dare you label me how dare you think I wouldn’t do
how dare you think I wouldn’t do
how dare you think I wouldn’t do anything other than amazing things high
anything other than amazing things high
anything other than amazing things high school was just a different point in my
school was just a different point in my
school was just a different point in my time in my life it was a time to read
time in my life it was a time to read
time in my life it was a time to read amazing books hang out with lots of
amazing books hang out with lots of
amazing books hang out with lots of people learn a lot about music and party
people learn a lot about music and party
people learn a lot about music and party didn’t do things that probably I’m not
didn’t do things that probably I’m not
didn’t do things that probably I’m not that proud of and that my daughter who
that proud of and that my daughter who
that proud of and that my daughter who is a Shadyside alum was probably would
is a Shadyside alum was probably would
is a Shadyside alum was probably would not be proud of but you know what
not be proud of but you know what
not be proud of but you know what happened I went to college I graduated
happened I went to college I graduated
happened I went to college I graduated in college in three years I had five
in college in three years I had five
in college in three years I had five internships I really thought I wanted to
internships I really thought I wanted to
internships I really thought I wanted to go into social services every single
go into social services every single
go into social services every single internship I have someone offered me a
internship I have someone offered me a
internship I have someone offered me a job and I kept thinking the world must
job and I kept thinking the world must
job and I kept thinking the world must be so desperate how is it after every
be so desperate how is it after every
be so desperate how is it after every internship someone is offering me a job
internship someone is offering me a job
internship someone is offering me a job but I started to realize that I was
but I started to realize that I was
but I started to realize that I was starting to take responsibility I was
starting to take responsibility I was
starting to take responsibility I was starting to understand what it was like
starting to understand what it was like
starting to understand what it was like to have an impact and for the first time
to have an impact and for the first time
to have an impact and for the first time in my life I started to put the pieces
in my life I started to put the pieces
in my life I started to put the pieces together and said no one else is going
together and said no one else is going
together and said no one else is going to judge me as a result of this linear
to judge me as a result of this linear
to judge me as a result of this linear procession that I’ve had up to this
procession that I’ve had up to this
procession that I’ve had up to this point of going to high school and then
point of going to high school and then
point of going to high school and then going to college I’m going to make a
going to college I’m going to make a
going to college I’m going to make a difference and by the time I was 22 I
difference and by the time I was 22 I
difference and by the time I was 22 I actually was overseeing 115 people
actually was overseeing 115 people
actually was overseeing 115 people working in a facility for people who had
working in a facility for people who had
working in a facility for people who had mental disabilities and physical
mental disabilities and physical
mental disabilities and physical disabilities that were erroneously
disabilities that were erroneously
disabilities that were erroneously placed in hospitals and they were
placed in hospitals and they were
placed in hospitals and they were undergoing a class-action suit and it
undergoing a class-action suit and it
undergoing a class-action suit and it just so happened at one of my
just so happened at one of my
just so happened at one of my internships I worked on a piece of
internships I worked on a piece of
internships I worked on a piece of public policy and the governor at the
public policy and the governor at the
public policy and the governor at the time of where I was living
time of where I was living
time of where I was living said you know here’s a young person that
said you know here’s a young person that
said you know here’s a young person that might be able to help in here I walked
might be able to help in here I walked
might be able to help in here I walked in I will never forget I had 115 people
in I will never forget I had 115 people
in I will never forget I had 115 people I had nurses I had adjunct doctors I had
I had nurses I had adjunct doctors I had
I had nurses I had adjunct doctors I had staffing staff it was a union and I
staffing staff it was a union and I
staffing staff it was a union and I walked in the first day and one of the
walked in the first day and one of the
walked in the first day and one of the supervisors who I was going to be her
supervisors who I was going to be her
supervisors who I was going to be her boss looked at me and said is your mommy
boss looked at me and said is your mommy
boss looked at me and said is your mommy know you’re out do you have any
know you’re out do you have any
know you’re out do you have any supervision does your mommy know that
supervision does your mommy know that
supervision does your mommy know that you’re here and that began my
you’re here and that began my
you’re here and that began my progression into trying to understand
progression into trying to understand
progression into trying to understand what it was like to have an impact and
what it was like to have an impact and
what it was like to have an impact and to drive change my own parents didn’t
to drive change my own parents didn’t
to drive change my own parents didn’t even believe that I really had that job
even believe that I really had that job
even believe that I really had that job they came instead to visit me at the job
they came instead to visit me at the job
they came instead to visit me at the job location just to peek around to see if
location just to peek around to see if
location just to peek around to see if what I was telling them was real so you
what I was telling them was real so you
what I was telling them was real so you know over those next 10 years I went to
know over those next 10 years I went to
know over those next 10 years I went to grad I went to graduate school I sort of
grad I went to graduate school I sort of
grad I went to graduate school I sort of changed the way I started thinking about
changed the way I started thinking about
changed the way I started thinking about the world and realizing there’s probably
the world and realizing there’s probably
the world and realizing there’s probably not much that I couldn’t do and for the
not much that I couldn’t do and for the
not much that I couldn’t do and for the first time I felt this flame inside of
first time I felt this flame inside of
first time I felt this flame inside of me saying you could really almost do
me saying you could really almost do
me saying you could really almost do anything now I know you think that might
anything now I know you think that might
anything now I know you think that might be such a huge broad brush of an of an
be such a huge broad brush of an of an
be such a huge broad brush of an of an expression but when you have an
expression but when you have an
expression but when you have an opportunity at such a young age
opportunity at such a young age
opportunity at such a young age like I did to lead people to make a
like I did to lead people to make a
like I did to lead people to make a difference to fail over and over again
difference to fail over and over again
difference to fail over and over again with rapid succession
with rapid succession
with rapid succession it builds confidence it builds the
it builds confidence it builds the
it builds confidence it builds the amount of confidence that I wish most
amount of confidence that I wish most
amount of confidence that I wish most people would have today and it’s one of
people would have today and it’s one of
people would have today and it’s one of the things that you don’t learn while
the things that you don’t learn while
the things that you don’t learn while you are really in school you only learn
you are really in school you only learn
you are really in school you only learn that day in and day out I remember once
that day in and day out I remember once
that day in and day out I remember once I must have been in my 20s and my right
I must have been in my 20s and my right
I must have been in my 20s and my right hand
hand
hand at my job to the master’s degree and
at my job to the master’s degree and
at my job to the master’s degree and very well-educated killed himself a few
very well-educated killed himself a few
very well-educated killed himself a few days after that in the same environment
days after that in the same environment
days after that in the same environment that I was at a woman was murdered
that I was at a woman was murdered
that I was at a woman was murdered through domestic violence through one of
through domestic violence through one of
through domestic violence through one of through her partner on the job someone
through her partner on the job someone
through her partner on the job someone came to our site and killed her and I
came to our site and killed her and I
came to our site and killed her and I said oh my gosh I can’t do anything how
said oh my gosh I can’t do anything how
said oh my gosh I can’t do anything how could this be I cannot do anything here
could this be I cannot do anything here
could this be I cannot do anything here I was confident feeling like I I really
I was confident feeling like I I really
I was confident feeling like I I really understood the Mojo of my work and I
understood the Mojo of my work and I
understood the Mojo of my work and I walked away from that and said you know
walked away from that and said you know
walked away from that and said you know what I probably need to think about what
what I probably need to think about what
what I probably need to think about what it means to be a leader and to influence
it means to be a leader and to influence
it means to be a leader and to influence people it was a I had to go one time I
people it was a I had to go one time I
people it was a I had to go one time I had someone who came who came after my
had someone who came who came after my
had someone who came who came after my staff and me and I went into hiding
staff and me and I went into hiding
staff and me and I went into hiding right around the time that my daughter
right around the time that my daughter
right around the time that my daughter was born and you might say how could you
was born and you might say how could you
was born and you might say how could you have this many troubled people in one
have this many troubled people in one
have this many troubled people in one workplace Audrey maybe it’s you right
workplace Audrey maybe it’s you right
workplace Audrey maybe it’s you right maybe it’s you that’s attracting this
maybe it’s you that’s attracting this
maybe it’s you that’s attracting this kind of thing but from those experiences
kind of thing but from those experiences
kind of thing but from those experiences as a leader and as a woman and as
as a leader and as a woman and as
as a leader and as a woman and as someone who now Leapfrog with me started
someone who now Leapfrog with me started
someone who now Leapfrog with me started to get into technology and started to
to get into technology and started to
to get into technology and started to see that not only was it really against
see that not only was it really against
see that not only was it really against all odds and the world was moving so
all odds and the world was moving so
all odds and the world was moving so fast and I was working in data centers
fast and I was working in data centers
fast and I was working in data centers and working with you know advanced
and working with you know advanced
and working with you know advanced application developers and I started
application developers and I started
application developers and I started working in in a space that I had no
cognition about what that kind of work
cognition about what that kind of work was in a period of time that was
was in a period of time that was
was in a period of time that was starting to move so incredibly fast I
starting to move so incredibly fast I
starting to move so incredibly fast I was the only woman there were really no
was the only woman there were really no
was the only woman there were really no women there were no women that were
women there were no women that were
women there were no women that were coming up through computer science there
coming up through computer science there
coming up through computer science there were no women that were what we’re
were no women that were what we’re
were no women that were what we’re working and willing to grab the ball and
working and willing to grab the ball and
working and willing to grab the ball and become leaders and so what I learned is
become leaders and so what I learned is
become leaders and so what I learned is that it’s really not the work per se
that it’s really not the work per se
that it’s really not the work per se it’s the relationships that we have with
it’s the relationships that we have with
it’s the relationships that we have with other people it’s just it’s taken me
other people it’s just it’s taken me
other people it’s just it’s taken me through this whole
through this whole
through this whole trajectory of learning to build my own
trajectory of learning to build my own
trajectory of learning to build my own self-esteem to understand against all
self-esteem to understand against all
self-esteem to understand against all odds and to begin to figure out that
odds and to begin to figure out that
odds and to begin to figure out that it’s all back in a continuous circle
it’s all back in a continuous circle
it’s all back in a continuous circle it’s really about people it’s about your
it’s really about people it’s about your
it’s really about people it’s about your ability to bring people up and bring
ability to bring people up and bring
ability to bring people up and bring people ahead of you and surround
people ahead of you and surround
people ahead of you and surround yourself with incredibly smart people
yourself with incredibly smart people
yourself with incredibly smart people because you know what as great as my
because you know what as great as my
because you know what as great as my confidence has been over these years I
confidence has been over these years I
confidence has been over these years I can’t do it alone I can never do any of
can’t do it alone I can never do any of
can’t do it alone I can never do any of this alone so I go from social services
this alone so I go from social services
this alone so I go from social services to get into strategic consulting I get
to get into strategic consulting I get
to get into strategic consulting I get into finance I get into technology I get
into finance I get into technology I get
into finance I get into technology I get into working at a company here in
into working at a company here in
into working at a company here in Pittsburgh that that was created out of
Pittsburgh that that was created out of
Pittsburgh that that was created out of Carnegie Mellon 25 years ago Maya design
Carnegie Mellon 25 years ago Maya design
Carnegie Mellon 25 years ago Maya design I work with a multinational company
I work with a multinational company
I work with a multinational company called Alcoa where i have teams all over
called Alcoa where i have teams all over
called Alcoa where i have teams all over the world and then I get a call as I’m
the world and then I get a call as I’m
the world and then I get a call as I’m sitting on Southside works and someone
sitting on Southside works and someone
sitting on Southside works and someone said you know they’re doing a
said you know they’re doing a
said you know they’re doing a recruitment for the Pittsburgh
recruitment for the Pittsburgh
recruitment for the Pittsburgh Technology Council and like oh my god
Technology Council and like oh my god
Technology Council and like oh my god what is that I don’t know anything about
what is that I don’t know anything about
what is that I don’t know anything about that and then as I say so just come just
that and then as I say so just come just
that and then as I say so just come just interview it’s a really amazing time in
interview it’s a really amazing time in
interview it’s a really amazing time in Pittsburgh and the world is going to pay
Pittsburgh and the world is going to pay
Pittsburgh and the world is going to pay attention to Pittsburgh we believe that
attention to Pittsburgh we believe that
attention to Pittsburgh we believe that that was ten years ago and as I started
that was ten years ago and as I started
that was ten years ago and as I started to get connected into Pittsburgh and
to get connected into Pittsburgh and
to get connected into Pittsburgh and started seeing the possibilities and the
started seeing the possibilities and the
started seeing the possibilities and the opportunities I assumed this job as the
opportunities I assumed this job as the
opportunities I assumed this job as the first woman the only woman that is
first woman the only woman that is
first woman the only woman that is running the Pittsburgh Technology
running the Pittsburgh Technology
running the Pittsburgh Technology Council that was started 34 years ago by
Council that was started 34 years ago by
Council that was started 34 years ago by a bunch of guys who said they weren’t
a bunch of guys who said they weren’t
a bunch of guys who said they weren’t going to let this region go to hell in a
going to let this region go to hell in a
going to let this region go to hell in a handbasket so my life is gone in people
handbasket so my life is gone in people
handbasket so my life is gone in people come to me and they say how did you go
come to me and they say how did you go
come to me and they say how did you go from this to this to this I thought you
from this to this to this I thought you
from this to this to this I thought you were trained to go this way
were trained to go this way
were trained to go this way why is there no flow path that takes you
why is there no flow path that takes you
why is there no flow path that takes you into a nice linear trajectory because it
into a nice linear trajectory because it
into a nice linear trajectory because it doesn’t because if you want to grab on
doesn’t because if you want to grab on
doesn’t because if you want to grab on to things that matter to you and want to
to things that matter to you and want to
to things that matter to you and want to have an impact it can never be
have an impact it can never be
have an impact it can never be because if you pair that with the rapid
because if you pair that with the rapid
because if you pair that with the rapid rate of change that we are going through
rate of change that we are going through
rate of change that we are going through right now that is so fast and so
right now that is so fast and so
right now that is so fast and so lightning fast your technical skills
lightning fast your technical skills
lightning fast your technical skills quickly evaporate and so the most
quickly evaporate and so the most
quickly evaporate and so the most important thing is that you build skills
important thing is that you build skills
important thing is that you build skills that continuously develop your
that continuously develop your
that continuously develop your capability to learn and if you continue
capability to learn and if you continue
capability to learn and if you continue to do that you will far exceed where I
to do that you will far exceed where I
to do that you will far exceed where I have landed you will far exceed any
have landed you will far exceed any
have landed you will far exceed any possibilities because there is no more
possibilities because there is no more
possibilities because there is no more one job there is no job that when you
one job there is no job that when you
one job there is no job that when you think you’re 22 you’re going to be out
think you’re 22 you’re going to be out
think you’re 22 you’re going to be out when you’re 30 but if you have skills
when you’re 30 but if you have skills
when you’re 30 but if you have skills and you have it paired with confidence
and you have it paired with confidence
and you have it paired with confidence and you have an opportunity to fail fail
and you have an opportunity to fail fail
and you have an opportunity to fail fail fail and pick yourself up as quickly as
fail and pick yourself up as quickly as
fail and pick yourself up as quickly as you fail and demonstrate that through
you fail and demonstrate that through
you fail and demonstrate that through relationships we win so for me this is I
relationships we win so for me this is I
relationships we win so for me this is I don’t get an opportunity very often to
don’t get an opportunity very often to
don’t get an opportunity very often to sort of talk about what I’ve gone
sort of talk about what I’ve gone
sort of talk about what I’ve gone through in my life
through in my life
through in my life many people say Audrey your career has
many people say Audrey your career has
many people say Audrey your career has been in so many different directions and
been in so many different directions and
been in so many different directions and I say it’s incredible it’s been amazing
I say it’s incredible it’s been amazing
I say it’s incredible it’s been amazing and I gift that to all of you as you who
and I gift that to all of you as you who
and I gift that to all of you as you who are here as parents and as you who are
are here as parents and as you who are
are here as parents and as you who are here as kids who are headed into the
here as kids who are headed into the
here as kids who are headed into the next iteration of the coming decade
next iteration of the coming decade
next iteration of the coming decade these are great times ahead we are
these are great times ahead we are
these are great times ahead we are living in an amazing amazing time but
living in an amazing amazing time but
living in an amazing amazing time but just remember it really is about be
just remember it really is about be
just remember it really is about be against all odds because nothing ever
against all odds because nothing ever
against all odds because nothing ever comes that simply and who would have
comes that simply and who would have
comes that simply and who would have thought that the companies that are on
thought that the companies that are on
thought that the companies that are on the NASDAQ today or those companies
the NASDAQ today or those companies
the NASDAQ today or those companies didn’t even exist sometimes six to seven
didn’t even exist sometimes six to seven
didn’t even exist sometimes six to seven years ago and I can tell you what’s
years ago and I can tell you what’s
years ago and I can tell you what’s going to be on the Nasdaq in the next
going to be on the Nasdaq in the next
going to be on the Nasdaq in the next five years our companies that you and I
five years our companies that you and I
five years our companies that you and I have not even heard of and that are
have not even heard of and that are
have not even heard of and that are going to be changing the world
going to be changing the world
going to be changing the world so change the world make a difference in
so change the world make a difference in
so change the world make a difference in your own life remember if you are a
your own life remember if you are a
your own life remember if you are a woman if you are a young girl you are
woman if you are a young girl you are
woman if you are a young girl you are you are at least half of what the future
you are at least half of what the future
you are at least half of what the future is and be a part of it
is and be a part of it
is and be a part of it I am very grateful for the time this
I am very grateful for the time this
I am very grateful for the time this morning I thank you all and I know
morning I thank you all and I know
morning I thank you all and I know you’re going to have a rockin day thanks
you’re going to have a rockin day thanks
you’re going to have a rockin day thanks for listening to my story
”
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