Uma Vandegrift 
Maven Wave Partners
Excellence in Leadership
Uma Vandegrift values her most important achievements as those that come from the successes of those she mentors. "Recently one of the women that I mentor was asked to speak on an all-women panel about how she taught herself how to program and got a job in technology. I helped her prepare for her presentation and then watched her absolutely steal the spotlight and knock it out of the park! It was an amazing feeling to watch her succeed and know that she was inspiring others as well."
She is appreciative of those who mentored her and says the best advice she received was to never be afraid to confidently ask good questions. "In consulting, I think it is extremely important to thoroughly understand the situation. Even if it may seem like everyone has a common understanding, good questions can often shift discussions in a positive way and expose new problems to solve."
"In my career, there are so many strong female leaders that I look up to. To be counted among them and recognized for leadership is extremely motivating for me. Being recognized makes me feel so proud of the work that I have accomplished and reminds me that it is worth it to keep working hard."
Q&A: What unique challenges have you experienced being a female consultant in the technology field?
"In over half of my calls/meetings during the day, I'm often the only woman. I think that in some groups, this can make it difficult to belong and feel like I fit in. I think this also creates a dynamic where I feel under more scrutiny than many of my peers. Luckily, I think things are shifting for the better. This year I've interacted with more women in leadership than I have in the past. I've been very lucky to have some extremely competent and strong female clients to learn from as well."
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