and be your authentic self ; and make sure you are rewarded and recognized accordingly .
How has a mentor helped shape your career ? We all need to surround ourselves with truth tellers who will be direct , honest and give actionable feedback ; someone who understands your skillset and will bring your name into conversations . My dad was a huge advocate for me . So was our first Dell vice chairman , who taught me about accountability and what ’ s expected of senior leaders .
Jeff Clarke , vice chairman and co-COO / Jessica Lass , corporate communications analyst
You ’ ve been with Dell for over 35 years ! What do you wish someone had told you early on ? That it all works out and to enjoy the moment . I believe the five secrets to success are to stay challenged ; learn ; make a difference ; find the right balance and perspective to do the things you love
We ’ re facing challenging economic times . How do you stay adaptive and responsive to change ? Technology is all about change ! It ’ s in our DNA . So I focus on what I can control : my work , our customers , learning , being a better teammate and collaborator , and innovating for the future . We have to leave behind the excuses about why something can ’ t be done , and instead think about how we ’ re going to do it and what ’ s needed to make it happen .
Deonte Thompson , sr . director , program
management office for client product group
/ De ’ Vonte Parker , marketing analyst
How have you balanced leading Dreamfaith , a nonprofit that empowers underserved students , while working at Dell for 21 years ? It was difficult early on — I kept my professional work and my nonprofit endeavors separate . Then , when Dell shifted its vision to be more humancentered , the company ’ s values and my personal values converged . Dell supported my work in the community via grants and donations , and I became more active in ERGs . I leveraged those partnerships to work smarter , which helped my work-life balance .
I ’ ve learned to allow my passion to lead me in the direction of my purpose . Your purpose will connect you to the right people , and the right people will be multipliers of your vision . Build a team aligned to your purpose and your organization will be sustained over time .
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