Cheri Linden

What did you want to be when you were a child?

I grew up on a farm in Ft. Collins and was fortunate to have some amazing Arabian horses. I was on the horse show circuit and competed in Colorado and nationally, in both Western and English disciplines. I wanted to be a professional horse trainer. Every year I would show horses at the Stock Show in Denver. As part of that annual show, I was exposed to downtown Denver, and I recall seeing women dressed in suits looking so polished and accomplished. The business world was of interest to me and as I continued through school, I realized I can have a career in the business world and show horses (although not be a full-time trainer).

You are a technology consultant. What called you to this line of work?

In college and high school, I loved science and math, but I most enjoyed and excelled in finance. After college, I continued my studies and received an MBA in Finance. At MBA school, I was recruited and hired by Accenture, a top consulting firm. I loved the idea of combining technology, finance, and business into a consulting career working with clients. It was such a perfect combination, and I have had a fabulous consulting career.

What are you proud of in your career?

I’m proud of my career and experiences as a technology/cloud leader in multiple industries. I was recently recognized by “Women We Admire” as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Denver (all industries). I’ve had great mentors, both male and female, who coached and provided invaluable support for a pinnacle promotion to Partner at Accenture. I have been a Chief Information Officer and have led Industry teams at a large Technology firm as cloud products first emerged. At Deloitte, I’m proud to leverage my experience in consulting, sales and industry around cloud technologies helping clients strategize and navigate transformations. I’m working with companies in Deloitte’s Energy, Resource, and Industrial Industries – companies that build, power, and protect the world.

What resources would you recommend to someone starting a career in a similar field as you?

Technology is always changing, and the pace of change is accelerating (cloud, GenAI/AI). Get educated, engaged, and be relevant – learn new capabilities and get technology certifications (AWS, MSFT, GCP, Oracle, etc.). If you can attend technology conferences, these have a wealth of educational sessions and are great for networking. Join women in technology associations, clubs to extend your knowledge and network. Dress for the role you want – always look professional and pulled together (I love a silk blouse with a modern leather jacket, jeans/skirt or just a cool blazer)!

What does the world need more of?

The world needs more women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics)! I love supporting organizations and educational programs with this focus. The more technology leaders can mentor and influence young women to choose this path, the better our world will become.

What rituals help you start your day off right?

My dog or cat seem to wake me up every day and they are always happy and energized. It starts my day off on a positive note. A good cup of coffee while I catch up on work emails in the early morning is a nice plus before meetings start. I work out every day – either weights and/or tennis or walking.

Cheri Linden is the Vice President of Sales in the Energy, Resources & Industrials industry for Deloitte Consulting. She can be reached on LinkedIn.

Physical reprints of Boss Babes Magazine featuring Cheri Linden on the cover can be ordered here.