Shellye Archambeau, former Silicon Valley CEO and author, discusses her book 'Unapologetically Ambitious' in which she shares her personal and professional journey. She emphasizes the importance of being ambitious and working towards goals, having a plan and being adaptable, the pressure of sacrificing for others, the power of asking for help and building leadership skills, and taking ownership of your career.
Having a supportive partner who shares your vision can contribute to personal and professional success.
Viewing decisions as choices rather than sacrifices empowers individuals to take ownership of their careers and lives.
Deep dives
Shelly Archambao's book is an empowering leadership guide
Shelly Archambao's book, unapologetically ambitious, offers an empowering blueprint for achieving personal and professional goals. Drawing from her own experiences as a black woman in Silicon Valley, Archambao shares her strategies and insights for success.
The importance of finding a supportive partner
Archambao emphasizes the significance of choosing a partner who supports your career goals. Having a shared vision and support system can contribute to personal and professional success.
Language and mindset: choosing choices over sacrifices
Archambao encourages individuals to shift their perspective by viewing their decisions as choices rather than sacrifices. This mindset empowers individuals to take ownership of their careers and lives.
Self-assessment, delegation, and seeking guidance
Archambao highlights the importance of self-assessment in determining which skills to master, tasks to delegate, and when to seek guidance from mentors or advisors. By prioritizing time and making conscious choices, individuals can enhance their effectiveness and focus on what truly matters.
Shellye Archambeau visits Google to discuss her book “Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers, and Create Success on Your Own Terms.” The book is an empowering leadership guide from one of Silicon Valley's first female African American CEOs that offers a blueprint for how to achieve your personal and professional goals. Shellye Archambeau recounts how she overcame the challenges she faced as a young black woman, wife, and mother, managing her personal and professional responsibilities while climbing the ranks at IBM and subsequently in her roles as CEO. Through the busts and booms of Silicon Valley in the early 2000s, this book details the risks she took and the strategies she used to steer her family, her career, and her company toward success. Shellye is one of high tech's first female African American CEOs and has been featured frequently in Forbes, the New York Times, Business Insider, and more. Formerly an executive at IBM and President of Blockbuster.com, Archambeau was recruited to be the CEO of a then-struggling Silicon Valley startup, now named MetricStream, a recognized global leader in governance, risk, and compliance software solutions. She currently serves as a Fortune 500 board member and holds board seats at Verizon, Nordstrom, Roper Technologies, and Okta.