Her Story
About Clara
Clara Johnson is a Senior Dispute Support Specialist with one year in her current role and five years in support positions overall. With 15 years of experience in the technology industry, she began her career with an internship at Salesforce, advancing to system administrator and then partner operations analyst during her five-year tenure there. She later worked at Asana and Sequoia before transitioning to roles at legal tech startups, where her focus is on customer support and dispute management. Based in Houston, Texas, Clara has some college education and tech support certifications, though she attributes much of her development to hands-on experience, self-teaching, and grit. She has participated in Toastmasters and served on the Year Up Alumni Board.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Clara
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to seeing my mom come from Mexico City with just the clothes on our back and build a successful business and community for herself. She was truly self-made and achieved the American dream, which inspires me to do the same and provide for my family.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Your network is your net worth. It's really who you know. All my jobs I've gotten through word of mouth or recruitment. Your reputation precedes you, so be mindful of that and your personal brand. And just be true to yourself.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Advocate for yourself. Find some people that you trust that can mentor you, and that doesn't mean they have to look like you or have the same background as you, just someone in your corner that's gonna believe in you.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges include figuring things out on your own without guidance and forging your own path, which involves making mistakes and character building. Opportunities include networking with driven people, the freedom to travel and work from home, and the ability to choose roles and achieve work-life balance.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I try to lead through compassion for myself and for others, reminding myself that we all it's our first time here. I also really value accountability for myself and others. And work hard and have fun, because you need balance.
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