The key to success is self-awareness -- figuring out the group you want to associate with and what you want to accomplish, says Cisco's senior VP operations.
Rebecca Jacoby's job is making sure the lights stay on at Cisco. Literally.
As senior VP of operations, keeping the lights on is a minor part of her job. Her responsibilities include IT, managing Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO)'s global supply chain and business services such as payroll, procurement and order management. Her organization manages the company business architecture, including documenting business processes. She oversees security. And, oh, yes, she also oversees buildings and workplace resources (which is where the lights come in).
Jacoby was promoted to senior VP operations in July by new CEO Chuck Robbins. She was previously CIO. She joined Cisco in 1995 and has worked in operations, manufacturing and IT. (See New Cisco Leadership Favors Diversity.)
We talked with Jacoby about defining success, the value of diversity, the advantages of being a woman in comms and more.
Figure 1: Keeping It Running 
Rebecca Jacoby, senior VP operations, Cisco
Light Reading's Women in Comms is now a not-for-profit, independent initiative providing information, networking, mentorship, access to jobs and support for women in the next-gen communications industry. Visit Women in Comms and get in touch to learn more!
Light Reading: What is the number one challenge for women in comms that is different from the challenges faced by men? What was your biggest hurdle?
Rebecca Jacoby: The challenges are different at different stages of your career. I'm not sure the challenges are really different for men and women.
Early in your career, you're trying to figure out what you really want. I don't think it's very different for men and women. Most people early in their career aren't really that self-aware and comfortable with what they want to do.
Early in your career, you think that's a challenge. Later in your career, you figure it was an advantage. You pick up different skill sets and those are the skill sets you need to be successful later in your career.
Start with self-awareness, and awareness of the group you want to associate with and what you want to accomplish. That's how you achieve success over time.
The challenge everyone faces is putting that together earlier in your career and making it work later in your career.
Probably the best career advice I give people is to know yourself, be self-aware and define success on your own terms.
LR: Is anything different for women there?
RJ: The more diversity you have on your team, the more you have an innovative and open conversation. Not just for women: If you're a minority in a situation, you probably have a different normal for conversations. While all women aren't the same and all men aren't the same, when you're in a group you have a standard norm. When you're not in the majority, you have to struggle your way through the communication style people use and get stuff done.
Men and women communicate differently. Once you're comfortable with that you have some fun with it. You learn different styles of communication, look at problems with different angles and have different ideas at the table.
I'm an operations person. Operations is all about getting things done. Execution. If you really execute well in operations, you contribute to a great environment in innovation.
Next Page: Women's Advantage
LR: What is the biggest advantage to being a woman in the comms industry?
RJ: In a lot of ways, women have more choices than men. If an opportunity presents itself and you choose to be an executive, you can. And you can choose to be a stay-at-home mom. As long as you're comfortable with yourself, you can be comfortable with that.
A woman who's comfortable with herself, who knows how to bring her skills to the table, has an infinite number of choices to be successful.
LR: Which can include opting out of the workplace?
RJ: Yes.
LR: How can we, as an industry, encourage more young girls to enter -- and stay in -- the comms or STEM space?
There is an inordinate burden on women to be an example and show they are engaging. There are great examples of women who are intelligent, smart, fun and interesting. I also think male leaders have a responsibility. It's well documented that these decisions start to change at or before the junior high or middle school level. We need mentorships and programs.
It's the right thing to do, but it's also a beneficial thing to do. When you get a diverse environment, you get an innovative environment. When you get an innovative environment, your company is successful.
LR: As a leader, what is the number one piece of personal advice you would give to help women achieve their goals in a male-dominated field?
RJ: Define success on your own terms.
Editor's Note: Light Reading asked Jacoby to name some programs and organizations Cisco is involved with to help women in STEM. Cisco followed up with a half-dozen:
Globaloria (United States): A social network focused on game design to allow students to develop digital literacy, STEM knowledge and global citizenship skills.
MIND Research Institute (United States): Provides online math instructional software for 630,000 elementary students.
Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning and Creativity (United States): The Fab@School Designer program lowers the onramp to STEM learning and careers by teaching digital fabrication and desktop manufacturing.
Science Buddies (United States): Provides STEM-related content to students, focusing on female and underserved populations.
STEM Academy (India): Delivers a comprehensive STEM curriculum to more than 2,600 students in low-income schools.
STEMconnector (United States): Increases communication and coordination between more than 5,000 organizations to share information on what works and who's doing the work in STEM education in the United States.
Related:
— Mitch Wagner, 
, West Coast Bureau Chief, Light Reading. Got a tip about SDN or NFV? Send it to [email protected].
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