Beth Lewis | Age: 54 | Profession: Program Management

Q: Tell us about your journey through womanhood.

A: "Do not underestimate me. I finished my bachelor's degree while having two children. I climbed from receptionist to leading a team of high-performing program managers as the Director of Professional Services & Program Mangers for a company in Silicon Valley out of my home office in Rochester, NY. As a divorced mother of two who has built her career the hard way, my success is due to the support of other women. My mother picked my sick children up from daycare and school more times than I can count so that I could work. I had a female mentor at a local telecom company who taught me whatever I wanted to learn. I have encountered female professors at Monroe Community College, Empire State College, and the University of the People who have provided me with support and encouragement. Never underestimate the power of women helping women."

Q: What would you say to another woman who may be going through something you've been through?

A: "Help other women. When you are at your lowest, it is other women who will hep you up and out. We hold the family together even when we do not feel that we are doing our best."

Q: What do you do for a living? What do you love about it?

A: "I am the Director of Program Management for a large telecom tech company. I love empowering people. I love finding what people are good at and allowing them to use their strengths to succeed and help others. I seek opportunities to train people to take my place so I can do something else. When we help other people succeed, true success is found. My goal is to add value and help others... servant leadership."

Q: What's the biggest hurdle you've overcome career-wise?

A: "I do not know where to start. Discrimination is real. Self-doubt is real. Being told "you will never be successful because you are too nice" is real. Be true to yourself. If it feels wrong, it probably is wrong. I came to the point in my career when I decided if I made decisions that allowed me to sleep at night, then I was on the right path. If that means sacrificing monetary rewards or promotions, then so be it. When it is time to leave this life, I would rather reflect on who I helped than where I won."

Q: What are your thoughts on beauty? When do you feel most beautiful?

A: "I see regular people as beautiful. It has only been in the last few years (since I’ve reached my 50’s) that I have seen myself as beautiful. I accept my imperfections and greying hair as badges of a life well lived. Too much time in the sun, too much stress, too much life. As some point, I started directing the same kindness I have towards others towards myself. I feel most beautiful when I take a moment to appreciate the peace in my life."

Q: What would you say to your sixteen year old self?

A: "You are capable of changing the world, one person at a time. Kindness and acceptance, encouragement and empowerment; when you extend this grace to others it will come back to you more than you can imagine. Teach other people everything you know so you can go forward and do something else."

Q: What are your hopes for the next generation of women? What advice would you give to them?

A: "If you are a mother, our children are watching you. However, they are not paying attention to the things you think they are. What is important to them is how you make them feel. It isn't always important to have a clean house, dinner on the table, laundry folded and put away. Sometimes it is important to go buy shoes at 8:30pm at night so they can bring a shoebox to school the next day for a diorama. Or to have a blue shirt, or a poster board or popsicle sticks for a project, or a costume. My step-father once brought a Disney game to daycare for a special day and my 4-year old said, "that saved my bacon”, which is pretty funny since we are vegetarians! Be patient with yourself, be nice to yourself, and surround yourself with people that will help you. If motherhood is not for you, that is ok. You have so much to give, people to support and maybe animals to love. Be true to yourself."

Q: What do you love about yourself?

A: "I love people, and I see the good in others. I only succeed when others succeed, too. I volunteer to give back to the communities that have helped me."

Q: What's the most empowering experience you've had (Or one of the most!)?

A: "Having children, being nominated MVP at work, traveling to Aruba for a sales conference, PMP certification from PMI, graduating from college, working on my MBA, and watching people grow and take my place as I have moved on. We can be empowered by little, everyday things, and we can be empowered by big things."

Q: Do you have a business you’d like people to know about?

A: "I have a small business as a bookkeeper, Beth's Bookkeeping, LLC. The website is under development. I have heard too many horror stories about small and medium sized businesses being taken advantage of. I want to help people grow their dream and be successful."

Q: Anything else you'd like to share?

A: "There is always time for kindness."