Heather Combs

Female leadership in business worldwide is at an all-time high: 87% of businesses now have at least one woman in senior leadership, a 12% increase in one year, according to the latest Women in Business research from Grant Thornton. And 29% of senior management roles are held by women, the highest number ever.

When I first entered the workforce more than twenty years ago, men called me “sweetie” and “honey.” But industries from tech to finance to health care have come a long way since then. Women are not only increasingly welcomed, but most often respected, at the table. Not only do 44 percent of companies have three or more women in their C-suite, according to a McKinsey study, but companies with women executives actually make more money.

As a Chief Revenue Officer of a $60M, 1,000 person growth company in the fast pace technology field and mom of 5 active little girls, I often get asked, "How do I, do it all." But in reality, my answer is the catch: I don’t do it all.

2019 will be a groundbreaking year for women. There have been remarkable achievements, and they give new confidence not only to women but to young girls across the country aspiring to positions of leadership. But this is just the beginning. Women have proven, time and again, that we have grit and perseverance in the face of obstacles, and that we can be at the helms of billion-dollar companies, and do it well. Let’s make 2019 the year “the glass ceiling” stops being something people talk about.

While some companies have been responsive to the idea of increasing female representation, others have claimed they can't find enough, or any, qualified female candidates to fill those spots. In November, when BlackRock sent letters to companies in the Russell 1000 index with fewer than two women on their boards, this was the story behind many of the responses.

But we can tell you: There are thousands of smart, accomplished and exceptional women out there who want those board seats, and… Show more

While some companies have been responsive to the idea of increasing female representation, others have claimed they can't find enough, or any, qualified female candidates to fill those spots. In November, when BlackRock sent letters to companies in the Russell 1000 index with fewer than two women on their boards, this was the story behind many of the responses.

But we can tell you: There are thousands of smart, accomplished and exceptional women out there who want those board seats, and who are waving their hands asking for a shot. Show less

Back in September, I had a blast answering questions from Authority Magazine about being a female disruptor in the tech space. One of the answers I gave has led to more than a few interesting follow-up conversations. When I was asked to share three pieces of valuable advice I’ve gotten in my career, here’s what I said:

Put first things first on the list,
Put yourself on that list and
Lean into the suck.

It’s that second answer that has gotten me into a great deal of awesome,… Show more

Back in September, I had a blast answering questions from Authority Magazine about being a female disruptor in the tech space. One of the answers I gave has led to more than a few interesting follow-up conversations. When I was asked to share three pieces of valuable advice I’ve gotten in my career, here’s what I said:

Put first things first on the list,
Put yourself on that list and
Lean into the suck.

It’s that second answer that has gotten me into a great deal of awesome, inspiring, and forehead-wrinkling discussions with women. What exactly did I mean by “put yourself on the list?” How exactly do I do that? How can others do that? Here are my answers... Show less

I had the pleasure of interviewing Heather Combs, CRO of 3Pillar Global, a software-development firm based in Fairfax, VA with delivery centers around the world. Heather joined the team in March of 2017, and she has led a sales and marketing organization charged with maintaining double-digit annual revenue growth since. Heather works to ensure that every client has a positive experience, championing what 3Pillar calls the Product Mindset.

Implicit bias is alive and well in the workplace. These women faced it, and in some cases changed it for the women who came after them.

Combs says it’s important for women to look for roles at companies where the culture and leadership consider their employees’ abilities before they consider their gender or race, like hers. “At 3Pillar, I’m not defined by my gender. Even when I’m the only woman in the room, I’m the chief revenue officer, full stop. You don’t have to let your gender… Show more

Implicit bias is alive and well in the workplace. These women faced it, and in some cases changed it for the women who came after them.

Combs says it’s important for women to look for roles at companies where the culture and leadership consider their employees’ abilities before they consider their gender or race, like hers. “At 3Pillar, I’m not defined by my gender. Even when I’m the only woman in the room, I’m the chief revenue officer, full stop. You don’t have to let your gender define you.” Show less