Young Women Speaking the Economy
Padmasree Warrior
"Today's leaders must be influencers. The next generation's trailblazer is one with an ever-expanding sphere of influence who builds a community as she paves the way forward..."
Padmasree's Selections
Digital Livelihoods for the World's WomenI love that Samasource brings affordable technology to rural areas and trains women for sustainable careers. Creating this community of digital workers helps women find their value and identity in their talent and contributions to the community. Samasource empowers women to create this community that is blazing a new way to earn income for future generations. Go to the selection >> |
Kiva: Online MicrofinanceI believe that our connections to each other are valuable in so many ways. And Kiva provides the loans to empower trailblazers to be innovative. I am so supportive of Kiva’s ability to include everyone – entrepreneurs and financial supporters alike–through their web-based connections. |
Africa's New EntrepreneursCamfed helped two young women in rural Zambia create their own entrepreneurial opportunities. The Leadership and Enterprise Training Program is blazing the trail for young women through practical education to find a future filled with success in their localities. The stories of Penelope and Ng’andwe are examples of the potential of millions of women who can achieve incredible things. Go to the selection >> |
Girls Helping GirlsSejal is a true trailblazer and brings together young women from around the world through online communities to foster self esteem and encourage dialogue and cross-cultural collaboration for positive change in their local communities. I love that she pays it forward by empowering other young women to become leaders in their own communities. |
Hero: Joan BladesJoan is a true, authentic leader who brings women together to recognize the challenges of being women, and encourage advocacy around key policy issues. Joan helps women talk openly about the challenges of being trailblazers in their local communities. It’s amazing to see technology enabling open sharing amongst women across the country to advocate change. |
Africa's New EntrepreneursToday’s trailblazers are leaders who can build and influence a community. This story by The Hunger Project shows the critical role of women in rural India to lead and influence local government. It’s incredible to see two million women who are transforming India and acting as role models to other communities and the next generation of women. Go to the selection >> |
5. Youth Communicating through ArtI love that Momentus brings future trailblazers together through art and performance. It’s great to see technology being used to cross boundaries for discussion around local and global challenges, for collaboration on solutions for a sustainable future, and to shar experiences with communities of youth around the world through the universal language of art. Go to the selection>> |
Curator's Statement: Padmasree Warrior on Trailblazers
If the past was about solo contributions, the future is about collaboration. Innovation is multi disciplinary and trailblazers are those who recognize that leadership in the future is less about prescriptive instruction and more about sharing experiences.
My selections reflect the changing role of women as trailblazers and the new characteristics that emerge in using technology to positively impact their communities, and the world. I hope you enjoy these selections and help celebrate all the women who blaze their own trails.
About Padmasree Warrior
Cisco Chief Technology & Strategy Officer Padmasree Warrior is charged with aligning technology development and corporate strategy to enable Cisco to anticipate, shape, and lead major market transitions. She helps direct technology and operational innovation across the company and oversees strategic partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, the integration of new business models, the incubation of new technologies, and the cultivation of world-class technical talent.
Warrior joined Cisco in 2007 as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and co-led Cisco's worldwide engineering organization. Prior to that, she was executive vice president and CTO at Motorola. Under her leadership, Motorola was awarded the 2004 National Medal of Technology.
Warrior has been widely recognized for her creative, visionary leadership. In 2012, Forbes named her one of "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women," Business Insider called her one of the "25 Most Influential Women in Wireless," and the Aspen Institute honored her with its first Leadership in Science and Technology Award. The Wall Street Journal has called Warrior one of "50 Women to Watch," Fast Company included her among the "100 Most Creative People in Business," and The Economic Times listed her as "the 11th Most Influential Global Indian."
In 2007 she was inducted into the Women in Information Technology International Hall of Fame.
Warrior holds a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi and a master of science degree in chemical engineering from Cornell University.
Get to Know Padmasree Warrior
Learn more about Padmasree and why she's involved in IMOW's Curating Change.
- IMOW matters to me because... IMOW is an incredibly powerful tool to share stories of success around the world and encourage women to connect with each other and find the ways that we can all bring about change for the better. The role of women continues to change as our world changes. Women have always been trailblazers, but there is even more opportunity for women to lead today. Opportunities can be created and we can help each other to break the mold and shape the future of women around the world. Our greatest opportunity is to reach across boundaries to get things done.
- People don't know that I can... Paint. I can completely disengage from the technology world to immerse myself in a world of paint and canvas. It is an intense passion and I dedicate time to painting every week.
- A mantra to live by… As a leader in the corporate world, I've found that the best way to earn recognition is to give credit away--freely, openly and often.