How I arrived at my present job (academic and other influences): In college I thought I'd go into foreign policy and be the next Jean Kirkpatrick or something. I wrote a paper on the statistical relationship between levels of trade and conflict between nations. The teaching assistant was an economist at the U.S. Trade Representative's Office. The next term when a job opened in the Information Division, he gave my name to the director and I was hired as an intern. That was in 1983 just when the IBM PC hit the market and we became responsible for rolling them out to the Office... the Information Division subsequently became the Information and Computing Section. The rest, as they say, was history. By the way, I got an A on the paper (and never even applied to the State Department).
How I organize my day: Look at my calendar to ensure I'm prepped for meetings. Read my e-mail and respond as soon as possible. This includes surfing to article links received from listservs overnight - I'm a technology researcher who has to keep up with the market.
Amount of time spent working daily (at home and office): 8 to 10 hours
What I do to get myself thinking creatively: After all the research is done, I let go and take a break. This might include leaving the office to take a walk, or turn my mind to something clerical or mechanical like filing the papers that pile up on my desk. When my mind is relaxed and "away from it" for awhile, the juices always start flowing again.
My problem-solving strategy: Gestate for awhile. Talk to others to get second opinions. Gestate some more. Decide.
What I do to relieve stress: Think of the stars in a deep night sky and how none of this matters in the bigger picture. When I get home, I like soaking in the tub after the kids are asleep.
My hero, mentor, or person I most admire and why: Work oriented role model: Mike Zisman, Lotus Chief Strategist, intelligent, thoughtful, humanist; when his wife died he wanted to quit his job to stay home with his kids, but kept it when Lou Gertsner said he could telecommute. Personal: my mom, who had the strength and love and courage to raise 5 kids alone after my dad left instead of farming us out to relatives who offered to take us.
What I do to mentor those who work for me: Always try to give them options and make them see they have choices. You shouldn't think there's only one way to think.
How a negative event changed my life in a positive way: A brain tumor turned out to be one of the biggest blessings in my life. You really do realize how precious life is and that it's not just a game. I learned how much certain people loved and cared for me.
One event or decision in my life I wish I could go back and change: I don't believe in this sort of attitude. Good or bad, I learn from the fallout of every decision or event. We are here to learn, not regret.
What values are the most important to me and what I value in others: Tolerance of diversity and suspension of judgment. "It takes all kinds to make a world" even if there are some kinds we feel we could do without. I am not naive, but I want to wait as long as humanely possible to "write someone off."
What inspires, motivates, or gets me excited about my job on a daily basis: Computers are cool. Their integration into society, business, and human nature is happening before our eyes, and we are living through one of the greatest revolutions of all time. You can read about new uses and applications everyday that help and hurt and that need to be thought of carefully.
Brief highlights of my life would include: The thrill of training for, running, and finishing the New York City Marathon. Who ever said the City has no soul should have this experience under his belt.
Writing and finishing a novel which plugged me into a creative flow that astounds me whenever I think of it.
Being pregnant and carrying life inside, and then giving birth to healthy happy beautiful children.
Finishing a rafting trip down the Colorado River by floating at night down into Lake Mead, and waking in the night to see a ribbon of dazzling stars framed by the canyon walls.
Planning, managing, and executing a technology cafe that far exceeded all my projections of success. Being recognized both interpersonally and monetarily for the achievement.
Being an important player in implementing technologies that bring people together, such as messaging and collaboration software.
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Location: www.acm.org/crossroads/dayinlife/bios/cherisa_burk.html