Inclusive leadership, and building what comes next
We have come a long way, and we still have work to do. McKinsey reports women make up 29 percent of C-suite roles, and that number did not change since 2024.
At Thought Industries, I’m proud to work alongside a leadership team with a range of lived experiences and points of view. For Women’s History Month, I wanted to share a few lessons that shaped how I lead, and what I try to build in the teams around me.
Q: Why does women’s leadership matter to you personally?
My story starts with the women who have inspired me the most, my mom, my grandma, and my great-grandma.
I grew up among three generations of hard-working women who navigated family life alongside demanding careers. My grandmother was a chemistry professor. My mom was working on her PhD in applied math.
When I was 14, my family left our home in Uzbekistan and moved to the U.S. My parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents arrived with a few possessions and two boisterous kids. Building a life in a new country and culture was not easy, but my family did what they have always done. They adapted, learned, and kept going.
As a computer scientist, my mom took on a role as a developer, and built her career while raising two daughters. My grandmother became fluent in English, which helped my grandparents settle into life here.
To this day, my mom is the smartest person I know. She is who I call when I need personal or professional advice. She is also who my kids call when they need help with homework, especially advanced math!
What inspires me most about the women in my family is their ability to engage with change, deal with uncertainty, and find new ways to grow. It is a lesson I have applied throughout my career.
Q: You have written before about leading with principles. What does that mean in practice?
Principles are the standards I do not negotiate away.
I have learned to be clear about what matters to me and the kind of environment I want to build. We all thrive when we have a chance to excel in our profession and personal livesI, navigating and integrating our activities and commitments is important to the success of any team and company. It’s always a priority for me as a leader.
That means being explicit about expectations, the way we work, and how we support one another, and it also means choosing environments and leaders that share those standards.
Q: Mentorship is often highlighted this month. What actually moves careers forward?
Mentorship helps. Sponsorship changes outcomes.
Sponsorship is when someone uses their voice when you are not in the room. It is putting your name forward, trusting you with real ownership, and backing you for stretch opportunities.
My mom was also a mentor to me and to many others in her career. Watching that shaped my own commitment. As a leader, I have always looked for opportunities to mentor other women, and to sponsor them when it counts. It is one of the highest-leverage things we can do.
Q: What do you wish more women heard earlier in their careers?
You can be ambitious and have a full life. You do not need to compromise or apologize.
The goal is to find leaders and environments that respect it, and to help build teams where it is normal for people to show up fully at work and at home.
Q: How does this connect to Thought Industries right now?
Opportunity and leadership development do not happen by accident. The goal is building a company where growth paths are clear, people are supported and advocated for, and leadership is developed intentionally.
We are in a major chapter of building at Thought Industries. We evolved from a learning platform into Learning & Intelligence, where learning interactions become intelligence and that intelligence drives customer outcomes.
As someone who has led product and technology teams for more than two decades, I have seen how much progress depends on the same fundamentals: analyze the environment, listen closely, and adapt quickly. Diverse perspectives help you do that better. They make it easier to catch blind spots and build for a broader set of customers and learners.
Q: What is your commitment for Women’s History Month?
Celebrate, and lead by example.
If you are a leader, make growth paths clearer. Set expectations that are fair and consistent. Give direct feedback. Sponsor early. Do not let opportunity depend on who is loudest.
