Fairygodboss Of The Week: Alice Katwan

Senior Vice President of North America Sales, Genesys

San Francisco, CA

FGB: Tell us about your career. How did you get to where you are now?

AK:  I’m Senior Vice President of North America Sales at Genesys, a global omnichannel customer engagement company. What attracted me to sales is that working hard and smart — not long hours — determines your success. Also that you’re judged objectively based on numbers, not on someone’s opinion. I figured this out early on, back when I was selling window treatments at Montgomery Wards in high school, and then bathroom and kitchen fixtures at a home design store in college. After graduation, I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time — Silicon Valley. I’ve been selling enterprise software for 20 years, working at Red Hat, BEA Systems and Network Appliance before joining Genesys.

AK: Professionally, leading a sales team of over 100. More than a fourth are women, including a vice president and two directors — which crushes the myth that it’s impossible to hire talented women in technology. Personally, becoming a badass executive while raising my three sons, ages 13, 17 and 18. 

AK:  Trying to “do it all” as a working mom literally made me sick. To get my health back on track, I had to change my concept of what it means to be a good parent and accept that it’s okay to get help at home. My advice for moms now: don’t bake cookies for classroom parties. Hit the sign-up sheet early and rock the paper plates.

FGB: What is the #1 career tip you'd like to share with other women who want to have successful careers like you?

AK: Speak up. Don’t assume that you will get what you want or deserve by performing well. You have to ask.

AK: It’s all about the culture. My team works hard and plays harder. We have fun, collaborate and have each other’s backs — all while generating 70 percent of the company’s North American revenue.

AK: Jo Miller, founder of Be Leaderly. Through training, speaking and writing, she has helped thousands of women grow as leaders, especially in historically male-dominated professions. When Jo talks (she has a charming Aussie accent), she’s so inspiring and positive that you can’t help but believe in yourself.

AK: I cook for my family every night unless I’m traveling. Growing up, the dinner table was the epicenter of family life, and that's what I want for our kids. There will always be more work to do, but being a kid is a one-time deal. Making dinner gives me a stopping point. It’s my line in the sand for work-life balance.

AK: Katherine Johnson, one of the African-American mathematicians who inspired “Hidden Figures.” She’s 99 years old, born on August 26 — Women's Equality Day.

AK: “American Pie” by Don McClean.

AK: “The Pursuit of Happyness” with Will Smith. It’s based on entrepreneur Chris Gardner’s memoir about being homeless with his young son for nearly a year

AK: ”Mindset” by Carol Dweck, a must-read if you’re a manager or a parent. It will change the way you think about success. And if you’re going to survive on a desert island, you definitely need grit.

AK: Handbags and shoes. I like to have options.

AK: I would buy a beachfront vacation home in Manhattan Beach, CA.