Her Story
About Billye
I started my career as a contract administrator in an entry-level position and worked my way up through various industry companies. I took several promotions while at Raytheon, and then my current company pulled me over to set up their legal and contracts department, so I promoted from the bottom all the way up. I've been doing government contracts for 16 years, and then moved into the legal side of it for the last 2 years. My typical day is incredibly varied - no two days are the same at all. I handle everything from corporate compliance to working with clients, setting up entities, mergers and acquisitions, establishing or dissolving entities with the state, negotiating contracts with customers, or following up with engineering when drawings are messed up. Everything is unique and different depending on the demand of whatever's happening that day. I'm a member of the American Bar Association and the Texas Bar. My mom was a paralegal who worked in a law firm for about 25 years, and watching her work ethic and dedication inspired my career path. Interestingly, my college counselor told me I would never go to law school, but I proved them wrong and built my own journey.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Billye
01What do you attribute your success to?
My mom was always a really big supporter in my corner. She was always behind everything I wanted to do, and she actually worked in a law firm for about 25 years as a paralegal, so I would say my mom is probably my biggest fan and the reason why I did what I did. I thank my mom, just watching her and watching how hard she worked - she was my big push to never really have to rely on anyone. Obviously, you want people around, but you don't want to have to rely on someone. So, to build your own journey and path, and to just move forward, and have people around because you want them, not because you need them.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I was told by my college counselor that I would never go to law school, so I think the best advice I have is that no matter what someone tells you, just keep doing it, because you never know where you're actually going to end up. Don't let anyone's negative opinions deter you from pursuing your goals.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It's a very male-dominated field, especially in government contracts, but don't let that scare or deter you from doing it. Just go in with confidence, and do your best, and make sure you check your work - dot your I's and cross your T's, and do your homework. You'll get to where you need to be. It's important to find the right people and the right mentors to help you along the way.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would say the field is still very male-dominated, and so opportunities are getting better, but I think just getting an opportunity or getting someone to listen and allow differences is still a challenge. Coming into it, I interviewed a lot before Raytheon would pick me up - I did multiple interviews with them, and then I finally got one that stuck, and that was where growth kind of took off. I had a lot of different bosses, and I finally connected with a really good mentor who helped me move up and do things that were needed to advance my career. It really helped getting different perspectives from her. So I think that's still a big thing - just getting the right people and finding the right people to help. In a male-dominated field, I think it's still hard.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say being true to yourself, honesty, and integrity are most important to me. Don't get lost doing something because someone else wants you to do it, because you're the one that has to deal with yourself at the end of the day. It's important to build your own journey and path, and have people around because you want them, not because you need them.
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