Her Story
About Carissa
Carissa Scholl serves as Managing Director for US, Canada, and EMEA in the technology industry. With 17 years of experience since entering the IT field around 2007, she oversees business units spanning go-to-market strategy, technology focus, vendor relationships, financials, operations, and engineering. Scholl earned her university degree in 2009 after playing college soccer, studying small business, completing internships in Brazil, and pursuing a minor in French. She holds multiple certifications including those from Cisco, CompTIA, and Hytel. Among her professional affiliations are board service for the STEAM program at Highlands Ranch School District, participation in Women of the Channel, Cisco Partner Summit, and Cisco advisory boards. Scholl received the Glenn Grice Award from Cisco, recognizing her grit, knowledge, intelligence, skills, and attitude. She attributes her success to strong family influences that instilled perseverance from a young age, and she advises young women entering the field to speak up, share opinions, listen actively, and confront issues head-on.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Carissa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I was very blessed with strong grandparents and parents who instilled in me to never give up and keep pushing. I was in a bad accident when I was young and lost my soccer scholarships but was still able to go play. The groundwork of never give up helped me make it. It's the product of really strong influence in my life that instilled when I was very young that things are never going to be given to you and whatever you want you have to go get and go after.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
One mentor in college said to go make my mistakes on someone else's dime before starting something on my own. A marketing expert said fortune was in the follow-up. I always need to be challenged because if I get bored then I move on, so find things I am passionate about.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't be afraid to make a mistake and don't be afraid to share your opinion even if it's wrong. Someone can always learn from it. Be a good listener too, to understand and evaluate situations. Speak up and give your voice and opinion and not be shy about that.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The speed of change right now is one of the most impactful things, with the shift towards AI, personnel implementations, what people are wanting in their market. The speed of change is the biggest challenge right now, very fast, faster than it's ever been.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
It's okay to make mistakes but not okay to hide from them. Confront issues head-on. Being very collaborative and valuing other people's opinions. Work ethic, not only working hard but working smart and in a timely manner because people's time is very important.
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