Carmen Fontana 
Augment Therapy
Excellence in Innovation
Early in her career Carmen Fontana drifted away from technology, partly because she could not envision herself as a technology leader. "There were just too few female role models to look up to and model myself after," she says. " Over time, I found my way back to tech but had to be creative and unconventional in seeking out mentors and sponsors."
One of Fontana's favorite sayings is "Be Kinder Than Necessary" (J. M. Barry). "I'm not always successful at implementing this advice, but I always try to do my best to be abundantly kind to colleagues and clients. Technology consulting is not easy – tech changes just as quickly as consumer tastes. This constant change is stressful. Leading with kindness helps to build trusted relationships and make for more productive, enjoyable work environments."
Over the course of history, women's contributions to technology have often been overlooked. "The Consulting Leading Women in Technology award is important to making our contributions more visible, and more importantly, to inspire future generations of female technology leaders."
Q&A: What is your greatest personal or professional achievement?
As far as achievements go, Fontana has an inspiring one, "At the age of 30, I was diagnosed with bone cancer in my left leg. Cancer is never easy, but juggling chemotherapy and radiation alongside a career, a toddler, and an infant were especially challenging. I am proud to say that I have been in remission for over a decade, and even went on to qualify for, and run, the Boston Marathon post-treatment."
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