What was the biggest sacrifice you’ve had to make when starting your career?

Balancing a career while raising my two daughters was my most significant sacrifice. It required immense energy to harmonize motherhood with professional aspirations, but I tackled it with determination and resilience. Mastering time management, I juggled work, extracurriculars, and family time while maintaining a positive mindset and a full-time software engineering role and a software business.

To grow professionally, I continuously learned new skills in software engineering. Becoming a ScrumMaster and later a Scrum Professional opened opportunities like contributing and authoring Scrum Alliance Global certifications. Moving from nuclear science and government contracts to the medical device industry has allowed me the opportunity to create products that alleviate pain and save lives, a profoundly fulfilling achievement.

My journey included writing software for various industries before discovering a passion for medical devices and life sciences. Earning five certifications, including a PMP, reflected my dedication to professional growth and led me to pursue my Ph.D. in Leadership with a focus on Technology.

Beyond career milestones, my greatest accomplishment has been raising strong, independent daughters who have graduated college and launched successful careers. These experiences taught me resilience, resourcefulness, and the art of balancing multiple roles.

My story shows that personal sacrifices and professional growth can coexist. I discovered that women CAN thrive in a demanding career while building a legacy of strength for their family!

What quotation inspires you and motivates you to be yourself and do what you love?

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~ Maya Angelou

It reminds me that we should be more intentional with our words and how we interact with people to leave a positive, lasting impression. Our brains are hardwired to recognize and remember emotions as a survival advantage that can traverse our fight-or-flight response. With a person’s warmth, wisdom, and compassion, individuals can experience life with fewer walls and fear. With each interaction, professionally and personally, I always ensure my kindness shines with respect for others.

As a leader, my leadership style is grounded in kindness and fostering a supportive environment. I like creating a safe space for team members to express ideas and concerns without fearing judgment. This approach builds trust, boosts morale, and leads to higher productivity. This philosophy shines in what I do every day at work and allows the best person to show up and be fully engaged.

What does the world need more of? Less of?

The world needs more kindness, compassion, and genuine connections. When my dad passed away, it was an incredibly difficult time for my family, especially for me. We came together to support one another and cherish his memory. I had to process my emotions and cope with the love and support of family and friends. This experience taught me how to help others who are going through emotionally challenging times.

Every individual you meet has a story, struggle, or challenge we often know nothing about. We must approach each interaction with compassion and love, even if we don’t fully understand someone else’s situation. By engaging in more profound and honest conversations, we can replace small talk with meaningful dialogue, ensuring that everyone feels heard and valued.

Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently when you were first starting out?

What a fantastic question! There are certainly things that people could choose to do differently in life, but I wouldn’t go back to change anything. My experiences and challenges have been essential in shaping my career and who I am today. Every experience has taught me valuable lessons that have helped me grow professionally and personally, enabling me to better serve my family, organization, and colleagues.

One lesson I have come to realize, and wish I had known years ago, is that most people want one of the three Hs: to be heard, to be helped, or to be hugged. When people have an issue or crisis, they usually need to encounter one of the three Hs. This critical life lesson has supported me in building relationships and developing strong communication skills.

If you were given $10 million, would you still work?

Absolutely! I truly love my profession, which gives me both passion and purpose. With financial freedom, I could pursue meaningful side projects and initiatives, such as rescuing women from human trafficking and domestic violence, creating support centers for abuse survivors, and potentially establishing a food bank for the homeless. I want to start an organization focused on these areas. It would be incredible to support others without the burden of financial pressures.

What is a significant obstacle you had to overcome? How did you accomplish it?

During a critical project in my role as the software development team leader and software business owner, we faced the challenge of delivering a complex product under a tight deadline. The team had limited experience with the necessary technology and unexpected technical issues, further complicating the process.

To address these challenges, I organized a team meeting to discuss the obstacles we were facing openly and to encourage collaborative problem-solving. Together, we identified the root causes of the issues and brainstormed potential solutions. I arranged targeted training sessions to help team members acquire the skills needed for the project and ensured that everyone understood their roles and goals. By maintaining regular communication and recognizing individual contributions, I kept morale high and ensured we stayed aligned as a team.

The outcome was a successful, on-time delivery of a groundbreaking product and technology, which is still active today. As my idea, this innovation utilized a thermal infrared camera to record and analyze stress levels during interviews, assessing heat exchange to provide insights for criminal investigations and government agencies. Beyond the technical success, this learning experience highlighted the importance of open communication, teamwork, and adaptive leadership—skills I continue to rely on to navigate challenges.

Donna Carlson is the Senior Director, Global Computer Systems Validation, RA/QA, Life Sciences & Pharmacovigilance for CooperSurgical where they are advancing the care of women, babies, and families with a diversified portfolio of products and services focusing on reproductive care to fertility, birth, and general women’s health. She can be reached on LinkedIn.