Her Story
About Ruth
Ruth Cook is Full Professor Emerita from DePaul University. She began her professional journey in tech sales as the first woman in the sales division in the United States at an IBM division that became Controlled Data, working among 37 men. After leaving that role due to family needs, she became vice president of a small manufacturing company in New Orleans and created a small cable television show. She later moved to Colorado, where she taught television production at a community college and launched an apprenticeship program for high school students. Cook earned her doctorate from Texas and joined DePaul University in Chicago, where she specialized in designing instructional systems and became one of the first to create online education systems in 1995. She has lectured around the world and developed a unique teaching approach using pictures and stories that particularly supports students with learning problems and disabilities. Today, based in Denver, Colorado, she continues to mentor doctoral students, consult, give talks, and write books, driven by a purpose to help others understand their own purpose and bring joy into their lives rather than focusing solely on wealth.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ruth
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a purpose-driven approach focused on helping others understand their own purpose and why they are here, beyond just making a living. The joy in people's lives matters more than wealth, and I never regretted moving into teaching because the feedback from students showed it made a real difference.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice came from what I didn't receive. People told me I couldn't do things and suggested being a bookkeeper instead of pursuing my dreams like singing. That made me realize I didn't have to follow others' limited views, leading me to marketing, consulting, and following my own path of working with people.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Underestimate me, I look forward to it. Most people, especially in male-dominated industries, underestimate women, which can be advantageous. Follow your vision, stick to it, pay attention to your culture and what you already know, and bridge the gap to new information without letting others deter you.
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