Shannon Nash currently serves as Chief Financial Officer at Wing - a drone delivery company and subsidiary of Alphabet, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL). She is the Lead Independent Director, Chair of the Nominating & Governance Committee, and member of the Audit Committee at UserTesting (NYSE: USER). She is also a Board Member and member of the Audit Committee and Talent and Compensation Committee at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the largest community foundation in the world with over $16B in assets under management. Shannon was featured on Accounting Today’s 2020 list of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting and named one of 2020’s Most Powerful Women in Accounting by the AICPA and CPA Practice Advisor. She also received the 2021 Trailblazer Award from CalCPA.
Shannon is passionate about Board diversity and serves as a Board Advisor to Black Women on Boards, an Executive Board Member to How Women Lead, and a Mentor for Santa Clara University’s Black Corporate Board Readiness Program. She’s also an award-winning documentary film producer with her film, Colored My Mind, winning best short at the 2013 American Pavilion in Cannes.
Especially for the WomenTech Network, Shannon agreed to give an interview, share her story and experience.
Watch Shannon's talk "Moving Beyond the C-suite. Life after the C-suite track", and other inspiring sessions on our YouTube channel.
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⚡️ Save the date: Women in Tech Global Conference 2023 will take place on May 9-12!
Tell us about your experience as a Women in Tech Global Conference 2022 speaker.
This is one of the best-run conferences. The "tech" (pun intended) really worked well, which is half the issue when you are running a conference of this size across so many time zones. Even with it being virtual, I was able to interact with many of the participants. I continue to receive notes from people who attended my session - which I love. I recently got this note and this sums up why I even do these sessions - to help people.
What is your favorite thing about working in tech?
The people! I have met some of the most intriguing. fascinating people who are literally changing the world for generations!
What advice (and tips) would you give to women who want to start a tech career?
1. The dream tech job may not be the first one you land and that's okay. Get your foot in the door. Say yes to new opportunities, remain flexible, and put on your creative thinking cap. During this unprecedented time, we're all taking on new roles and responsibilities. We've had to adjust priorities, workflows, and P&Ls overnight to ensure business health and continuity for our customers. Nobody had a pandemic line-item in their forecasts - so the rapid amount of change that happened overnight hit us all head-on, and the only way to survive that impact and thrive is to remain flexible.
2. Also, like all things in life - this too shall pass - so look at it as an opportunity to grow your skillset, build lasting relationships, and try something new. It's the glass half full argument.
3. Finally, invest in yourself. For me, this means continuing education — to remain competitive, you have to make sure you continually retool for your industry or position, whatever that might mean. A lack of time off cannot stop you. You need to stay curious to stay competitive, and part of that is being a life-long learner. Unfortunately, gone are the days when you can expect your employer to provide you with additional education, so you need to come out of pocket and put some money on yourself.
Who would you recommend to join the WomenTech Network?
Anyone working in tech who is looking to network and increase influence in their organization should run, not walk and join WomenTechNetwork! This is a place where you can truly find your tribe. No one makes it to the C-suite alone. You need supporters who help you get there and a tribe that helps you continue to ideate and become better. This is that tribe for women in tech.
To recognise the achievements of our community and beyond we are hosting the annual Women in Tech Global Awards 2022. Nominate yourself or someone else:
