Her Story
About Heather
With 25 years in the consulting field, I currently serve as a Managing Director at Accenture, a position I've held for 2 years. In this role, I manage our SAP Testing Center of Excellence and oversee large, complex delivery operations across key clients in multiple industries, including oil and gas, resources, and products. My most notable professional achievement has been managing one of our largest resources clients globally. What inspired me to enter this field was seeing the lack of minorities, especially African Americans, and women in the technology space. It was a passion of mine to be able to pave a way, not only just for my family, but also to be a staple in our community, to show that this is an achievable goal for women of color.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Heather
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success actually to my mother, who was back then a sharecropper with limited education, and just being able to break that barrier for our family. She has been my greatest inspiration and mentor, showing me what's possible even when starting from difficult circumstances. Breaking through those barriers not only for my own family but also being able to be a staple in our community has driven everything I've accomplished.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was to be true to you and follow your instinct, because it doesn't lie. This advice has guided me throughout my career, helping me navigate challenges and make decisions that align with who I am authentically. Trusting my instincts has been fundamental to my success and ability to show up as my authentic self in every situation.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say be comfortable being uncomfortable. And it's okay to be in spaces when you're the only one. Throughout my career in technology, I've often been the only woman or the only person of color in the room, and learning to embrace that discomfort has been essential. Don't let being the only one hold you back or make you question whether you belong, because you absolutely do belong in those spaces.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think the biggest challenges are still just trying to ensure that you can show up authentic, but then also making sure that you network with the right people. That's one of the challenges - trying to navigate, but given that the company is so large, it can be challenging to navigate through. Finding the right connections and building meaningful relationships while staying true to yourself in a large organization requires intentional effort and can be difficult to balance.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in my work and personal life are authenticity, trust, and honesty. These three values guide everything I do, from how I show up in professional spaces to how I build relationships with colleagues and clients. Being authentic and honest while fostering trust has been central to my approach to leadership and life.
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