Age: Old enough to know better. Profession: Marketing in the technology field. Organization: Opengear, a Digi Company. Title: Chief Marketing Officer. Significant other: My husband, Kevin Bailey. Alma mater: Keuka College (B.S.); Rochester Institute of Technology (M.S.).
What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Taking my first job at IBM. Recent travel or adventure: Costa Rica. Last book read: Lead like a Woman, by Deborah Smith Pegues. Recently viewed and recommended: Ted Lasso (Apple TV+). Recent unique acquisition: More spooky Halloween decorations. Think animated zombies.
What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Intuitive. I texted our group chat and that was the consensus. The other choices were: vivacious, competitive, loyal and confident. How do you define a perfect friendship? Honest, loyal, dedicated, compassionate, always there for one another. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Teamwork. You need to have mutual respect and be able to see the bigger picture. What is your greatest joy? My children and their successes. What natural talent have you neglected? Communicating with ghosts. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? Farmers.
What three emojis best describe you? 🤘👻🌎.
What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? “She writes her own rules & inspires others to follow.” Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? My friends, undergraduate professors and soccer coaches. They all saw something in me I didn’t know existed. What’s the best advice you received growing up? Girls can do anything boys can do. What’s the best advice you received in your career? Leaders can be silent and still make an impact. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? Mobile phone and heated blankets.
What world event has had the greatest influence on your life? 9/11. I had scheduled a company meeting just blocks from the Twin Towers that morning. For reasons I cannot explain, I changed the location just one day before, to Pennsylvania. That decision saved my life and the lives of my co-workers.
What personal circumstance has had the greatest influence on your life? I coded after surgery several years ago, due to multiple blood clots. I have seen the other side and know how extremely beautiful it is – so beautiful that we do not even have the words to describe it. Sheer warmth, ever-reaching love, brilliant light and peace - these come close.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? More female empowerment in the workplace. What change would you like to see in the world? Greater empathy, compassion, appreciation and true understanding of others. What message do you want to send out into the world? Please be tolerant, please be loving and please be respectful. Everyone is entitled to live their authentic selves. What mega-trend most excites you? AI. It can tackle so many challenges and, besides, who doesn’t love robots? What mega-trend most concerns you? Children spending too much time on a screen and not enough being present.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? Live Life As If It’s a Dance. What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Kate Winslet. Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? My father. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? President. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? My dogs, Henry, Mya, Beau and Stella. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? Spending time with my husband, children, sisters, BFFs and pups. What advice would you give your younger self? It’s ok to be different. Different is beautiful. Different is daring. Different will take you places.
Personal mission: To live life to the fullest and to drag others with me. Favorite quote: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” (Maya Angelou). Desired epitaph: She Loved. She Danced. She did it her way.
