Andrea Sanrocco

I attribute my success to perseverance, continuous learning, and building strong relationships with other women in my field. Being a first-generation college graduate whose father came from Italy after the war with nothing, I understand the value of education and the importance of someone believing in you. I got a scholarship to go to RIT, and I couldn't have gone there and done all this if I didn't get that, because I couldn't afford it. That experience taught me how critical it is to support others, which is why I've been so passionate about mentoring young women and establishing scholarship funds for first-generation students. I've also learned not to be selfish with my knowledge - I always made sure to share procedures and processes with my colleagues so they could succeed even after I moved on. And crucially, I've maintained strong networks with other women who support each other, because sometimes women are not nice to other women in business and try to keep each other down. When you find those women that support each other, it makes all the difference. That's actually how I landed my current consulting role after being let go from Constellation.

Andrea has been influenced by leaders and colleagues throughout her career, as well as her family’s emphasis on education. These influences have shaped her commitment to mentorship and leadership development.

I want young women to see all the possibilities that a career in technology brings. You don't have to be purely technical - I've always straddled this world of being a business person in a technical world, and it's worked out really well for me. I started in engineering but switched to business, and that combination has been incredibly valuable. I encourage young women to pursue education and take advantage of programs like co-ops that give you real-world experience. I was the only young woman to get the honors co-op at IBM, and that set the trajectory for my whole career. It's also critical to build relationships and not be selfish with your knowledge - share what you learn with others. And seek out other women who will support you, because unfortunately some women try to keep other women down in business. When you find those allies, hold onto them. Most importantly, believe in your abilities and know that you deserve a seat at the table, even if you're the only woman there. I've been in that position throughout my career, and it's made me even more passionate about helping the next generation of women succeed.

One of the biggest challenges I'm seeing is the continued lack of women in technology and engineering fields. When I went to a graduation at RIT a couple years ago for computer science, at least 20 to 25 young men would walk up to get their diploma, and then one woman. I was like, my God, all these years later, it hasn't gotten any better - I think it's gotten worse. And I don't understand that, especially with all this AI coming out. For women not to have a seat at the table with all this AI development is a disservice to society in general, because we need to have representation. The opportunities lie in helping young women see the possibilities in this field and creating pathways for them through mentorship, education, and financial support like scholarships. There are also amazing opportunities in combining business and technology skills, which is something I've done throughout my career. And there's a real need for people who can lead change initiatives and help organizations navigate technological transformation, which is where my current focus is as a change management consultant.

Education is absolutely central to my values, both personally and professionally. As a first-generation college graduate whose father came from Italy after the war with nothing, I understand how transformative education can be. That's why I fought to establish a scholarship fund at Constellation for first-generation students at RIT, telling executives my own story about how I couldn't have attended RIT without scholarship support. Mentorship and giving back are also core to who I am - I get energy from helping others succeed, whether it's mentoring young women in engineering, supporting at-risk women through Dress for Success, or teaching project management as an adjunct professor. I'm not selfish with my knowledge because I believe in setting others up for success. Integrity and making a meaningful impact matter deeply to me. Even though all my work with Lean In and Dress for Success had to be done outside my normal job hours at Constellation, I was elated after those sessions - it gave me more energy than it took. That's how I know this work aligns with my values. I'm now considering pivoting to higher education for the second part of my career because I feel a different calling to continue making a difference through education and student advising.