Power Up With Tech Pioneer Magdalena Yesil
04/27/18 • 42 min
With great reward often comes great risk. To be on the leading edge of progress in an evolving world, you must be willing to take chances and be brave. Today’s special guest knows all about taking risks, powering up, and being first! She made a name for herself in the rapidly evolving world of technology in the cradle of tech itself, Silicon Valley. Today she is here to share her journey from immigrant to Silicon Valley pioneer and the power of “Powering Up.”
Through her roles as the first investor and founding board member of Salesforce, as well as a serial entrepreneur who founded two successful companies (CyberCash and MarketPay), Magdalena Yesil established herself as a pioneer in Electronic Commerce. After graduating from Stanford University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and Management Science and Engineering and a Masters of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, she has been active in Silicon Valley for over 30 years (8 of those as a VC at US Venture Partners). Additionally, as the Founder of Broadway Angels, she currently works with an all-female board of angel investors.
This is an episode you won’t want to miss! For entrepreneurs and techies everywhere, men and women alike, stay tuned to hear all about Magdalena’s groundbreaking new book, Power Up: How Smart Women Win in the New Economy.
In This Episode
- How and why you need to power up
- The current landscape for women in tech and venture capital
- The "Me Too" movement and power dynamics in the workplace
- Why you need mentors and sponsors
- Challenges and misses all professionals can relate to
Quotes in This Episode
“When an opportunity presented itself, I was always willing to take a risk.” —Magdalena Yesil
“I don’t do regret, I don’t think regret is a good thing. I think it’s a waste of energy, and my goal in life is always to look forward, not back.” —Magdalena Yesil
“Don’t just let it happen. In fact, you have more power than you think to control the situation. Now, that doesn’t mean that you can always control it [...] Let’s use the power we actually have more often than we do.” —Magdalena Yesil
“The key is to have the belief that tomorrow [...] is going to be better [...] that really is the bottom line of entrepreneurship.” —Magdalena Yesil
“You can do anything as long as you know what the risks are and you’re willing to take those risks [...] Any idiot can take a risk with their eyes closed, the trick is to take the risk with your eyes open, knowing the consequences, knowing the price you’re going to pay.” —Magdalena Yesil
Resources
With great reward often comes great risk. To be on the leading edge of progress in an evolving world, you must be willing to take chances and be brave. Today’s special guest knows all about taking risks, powering up, and being first! She made a name for herself in the rapidly evolving world of technology in the cradle of tech itself, Silicon Valley. Today she is here to share her journey from immigrant to Silicon Valley pioneer and the power of “Powering Up.”
Through her roles as the first investor and founding board member of Salesforce, as well as a serial entrepreneur who founded two successful companies (CyberCash and MarketPay), Magdalena Yesil established herself as a pioneer in Electronic Commerce. After graduating from Stanford University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and Management Science and Engineering and a Masters of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, she has been active in Silicon Valley for over 30 years (8 of those as a VC at US Venture Partners). Additionally, as the Founder of Broadway Angels, she currently works with an all-female board of angel investors.
This is an episode you won’t want to miss! For entrepreneurs and techies everywhere, men and women alike, stay tuned to hear all about Magdalena’s groundbreaking new book, Power Up: How Smart Women Win in the New Economy.
In This Episode
- How and why you need to power up
- The current landscape for women in tech and venture capital
- The "Me Too" movement and power dynamics in the workplace
- Why you need mentors and sponsors
- Challenges and misses all professionals can relate to
Quotes in This Episode
“When an opportunity presented itself, I was always willing to take a risk.” —Magdalena Yesil
“I don’t do regret, I don’t think regret is a good thing. I think it’s a waste of energy, and my goal in life is always to look forward, not back.” —Magdalena Yesil
“Don’t just let it happen. In fact, you have more power than you think to control the situation. Now, that doesn’t mean that you can always control it [...] Let’s use the power we actually have more often than we do.” —Magdalena Yesil
“The key is to have the belief that tomorrow [...] is going to be better [...] that really is the bottom line of entrepreneurship.” —Magdalena Yesil
“You can do anything as long as you know what the risks are and you’re willing to take those risks [...] Any idiot can take a risk with their eyes closed, the trick is to take the risk with your eyes open, knowing the consequences, knowing the price you’re going to pay.” —Magdalena Yesil
Resources
Previous Episode
Nancy Lee Sanchez is Selling the Dream of Education
Today we are talking about diversity, inclusion, and helping students and professionals pursue their dreams. Nancy Lee Sanchez turned her own journey navigating the American educational system into a career that benefits thousands of students today. From working in a sweatshop at the age of 13 to earning her Masters from Brooklyn College, Nancy’s story is one of resilience, determination, and inspiration.
Nancy is the Executive Director of the Kaplan Educational Foundation. She has over 18 years of expertise providing greater access to higher education. Moreover, Nancy has been a champion for improving the college experience and supporting leadership among low income, non-traditional, and underrepresented students. Nancy’s educational journey started at Kingsborough Community College. After earning her AAS there, she went on to earn a BA from Long Island University and an MA from Brooklyn College.
Stay tuned to learn what it means to be in the business of “selling a dream,” and just how Nancy and the Kaplan Educational Foundation are making higher education accessible and thoughtful.
In This Episode
- Common struggles for immigrant students
- The importance of diversity and inclusion
- Leveraging educational institutions
- Education beyond the classroom
- Selling the dream and living the dream
Quotes in This Episode
“Many people believe that in Puerto Rico English is taught to the point that you become proficient. But in reality, I lived in the countryside and that wasn’t true.” —Nancy Lee Sanchez
“I don’t remember ever [having] conversations about college, and that was because so many of us and our families were in this survival mode.” —Nancy Lee Sanchez
“I remember thinking of my mom as ‘Rosie the Riveter’...I just felt like I knew so many ‘Rosie the Riveters’...They were always working. You know, women of color especially and in many communities that have been disenfranchised, women have really always contributed to the economy.” —Nancy Lee Sanchez
“I don’t want people to be in survival mode, I want people to thrive.” —Nancy Lee Sanchez
“Last night I was on my Facebook, and I had one of my students take a picture in LA and he said, ‘I’m on top of the world’ and this is a young man, an urban youth, New York city raw talent–many people have dismissed him–but he really wants to bring sustainable farming [to cities.]” —Nancy Lee Sanchez
“There will always be injustice. I want to live in a world where that doesn’t exist, but what do you do when there is injustice?” —Nancy Lee Sanchez
Resources
The Kaplan Educational Foundation
Your 2018 Guide to College Transfer: 90 School Profiles BOOK
Next Episode
Leveraging the Power of Clarity and Positivity with Clarity Coach Dolores Hirschmann
Learn, expand, and reskin! The key to any successful endeavor is a crystal clear understanding of its purpose, place, and potential. Most ventures are doomed to fail without mindful preparation and ready execution. Today Dolores Hirschmann joins us to discuss clarity–clarity in messaging, clarity in purpose, and clarity in your business so that you can become a successful “idea-preneur.”
Dolores Hirschmann is an internationally recognized strategist, speaker, and Clarity Coach. She is the Chief Clarity Officer at Masters in Clarity and a Tedx Organizer and Speaking Coach. Dolores is also a published author with two books currently out: New Beginnings, and 18 Minutes of Impact: Move Your Audience to Action the TED Way.
Stay tuned as we leverage the power of clarity and positivity with Dolores. Get ready to lean away from failure and lean into fulfillment as she shares some GREAT advice with our Women Worldwide audience.
In This Episode
- Dolores’ Story
- Masters in Clarity and the power of clarity
- Doing what you are wired to do
- “Idea-preneurs”
- The “Human Coach”
- Massaging that fear and some really good advice
Quotes in This Episode
“Let’s look at the intersection of [...] what would you do for free all day long, what are you trained to do, what does the world need, and what would people pay?” —Dolores Hirschmann “How do I find myself in this place? How do I continue my professional and intellectual growth?” —Dolores Hirschmann “I am passionate about ideas that can make a positive impact in the world.” —Dolores Hirschmann
“When you are able to serve from this place you become magnetic [...] you are doing what you were wired to do.” —Dolores Hirschmann
“We become successful in our work when we are able to be okay with who we are.” —Dolores Hirschmann
“You have to actually help them process the fear, because if they don’t they’ll never leave the driveway.” —Dolores Hirschmann
Resources
Masters in Clarity Website
Dolores on LinkedIn
Dolores’ Books: New Beginnings, 18 Minutes of Impact: Move Your Audience to Action the TED Way
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/women-worldwide-with-deirdre-breakenridge-36267/power-up-with-tech-pioneer-magdalena-yesil-7572479"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to power up with tech pioneer magdalena yesil on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy