Women Execs Honored for Success

YWCA Silicon Valley honored more than 40 women and their achievements at the 27th annual Tribute to Women Awards ceremony in San Jose on May 3.

The YWCA Tribute to Women Award Program (TWIN) honors illustrated excellence in executive-level positions at the companies who employ them. The women are chosen based on outstanding achievements and critical contributions they have made to their organization.

“It was spectacular event; we had over 600 people and 46 honorees, and every(one) seemed to be having a great time,” says Kelly Ramirez, chief development officer for the YWCA Silicon Valley. "We couldn’t be more pleased."

The evening event included video messages from honorees, who shared what it means to be nominated and what it means to be a women in the field they work in. Some of their remarks include:

• Clarisa Peer, general manager of ALZET Osmotic Pumps Division of Corp. in Cupertino, says one of the keys to success for women, and all people in general, is to learn how to learn and stay persistent. Savor the journey, she says.
• Tomoka Tanaka, director of risk management and compliance for KLA-Tencor in Milpitas, started her career in the U.S. Navy during a time when people didn’t picture women being in the service, she says. But throughout her life, she made it an effort to “be prepared, and at times overprepared, and to add value to whatever role you take on,” she says in her video statement.
• The ability to make a difference in individuals' lives is one of the most rewarding things for the vice president of U.S. commercial sales for Milpitas-based Cisco Systems, Alison Gleeson. “The number of people you touch as a mentor has a lasting impact,” says Gleeson in her video statement.
• For women who want to live a successful life, believe in yourself and pursue your dreams with passion, says Jayashree Ranagarajan, director of interactive and design tools for Xilinx Inc. Adapt to chance and learn something with each new experience, she says.
• Creating a sense of community motivates Jenny Haruyama, assistant fiance budget director for the town of Los Gatos. “Seeing the small things happen so better things can happen,” Haruyama says. Experience taught her that people do not remember what you’ve done or said, but how you made them feel.
• Kuni Hay, vice president of academic affairs at Evergreen Valley College in Milpitas, said in her video statement, “I want to see students accomplish things they couldn’t do.” One of her biggest rewards is to “be able to share successes with students," which is a "reminder for why I do what I do. Do the work you love well,” she says in her video statement.
• Erika Montgomery, CEO and chief publicist for Three Girls Media and Marketing Inc. in Campbell, says there is nothing quite as exciting as getting press for her clients. “(Our company is) proud to be the only PR company in the nation to guarantee press coverage for our clients; it’s a track record we are very proud of,” she says.
• Gloria Chen, vice president of the office of the CEO of Adobe Systems, says in her video statement, "Having an impact on someone’s life as a mentor is the most rewarding thing.”
• Marilyn Nagel, chief diversity officer for Cisco Systems in Milpitas, says that to succeed you must find inspiration in whatever it is you are doing and make it your own.
• Christy Sandborg, chief of staff at Palo Alto’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, says her advice to women on how to succeed in life is to abide by your internal moral compass with integrity, compassion and empathy, through building relationships and collaborative problem-solving, as quoted in the award program.
• Kathy Bries, director of portfolio management and strategy and operations for Cisco Systems, says the things she finds most rewarding is what she has learned from other business people. “It’s helpful to have someone there holding your hand during big decisions,” she says.
• Lori Andersen, director of healthy aging for The Health Trust in Campbell, says a tip to women to have a successful career is to learn about yourself and embrace it with pride. “Even as a kid, I had an obligation to make a difference and to make it on many levels,” Andersen says in her video statement.
• Nancy Morse, senior vice president for Grubb & Ellis, wants women to know that to succeed in life, it’s best to figure out what you are passionate about and what you enjoy and follow it. It will pay off with a lifetime of happiness and rewards.
• Maureen Alger partner of Cooley LLP in Palo Alto, says to move forward in life and to be passionate about what you do, and success will come more easily.

The women who were celebrated and recognized come from all walks of life, but what they all have in common is that they see obstacles as opportunities to improve their lives and the lives of others.

“Each year there is such a new variety of women that come in from a number of different industries in the [Silicon] Valley, and each year we sit here as staff absolutely amazed with the women that are honored,” Ramirez says.