Carrie Hunssinger

I'm a very passionate individual, and I've molded my life around the idea of being remarkable - which doesn't just mean being interesting, it means being worthy of being remarked about. I heard this concept in a TED talk about Steve Jobs and the iPhone, and it really resonated with me. Whether it's good, bad, or indifferent, I want to leave every room, every conversation, every interaction as somebody that people are going to talk about when I leave. I'm a little different, a little quirky, and generally authentic. That kind of shines through, and people like doing business with real people who are not going to coddle them or tell them things just because they want to hear it. I just tell you exactly the way it is, and I think people appreciate somebody who's no nonsense. Sure, it gets me in trouble sometimes and there are some people who are not a fan of that approach, but for the most part, most people just want somebody who's a real person.

I have these conversations all the time with my 19-year-old babysitter Madison, who wants to do what I do. I think there are easier ways to do it than what I did, and that has everything to do with not what you know, but who you know. The network is critical, and having somebody to support you and elevate you - it's almost impossible to do that on your own without just a tremendous amount of effort. You need to align yourself with people who will lift you up. I did it the hard way with blood, sweat, and tears, and I don't think that was necessary. In general, there is a lack of female mentorship. As a woman, you're kind of left to deal with things on your own, especially in technology where it's very much a male-dominated field and everyone's out for themselves. It's unfortunate that there isn't more stewardship and mentorship from an older, more tenured executive to somebody who's starting out. I hope to be able to do that for other people.