Sheila Singh

I definitely attribute a lot of my success to the people who invested in me along the way. My parents are immigrants, and they came to the United States because they believed deeply in the power of education and opportunity. They instilled in my sisters and me the importance of learning, working hard, and always continuing to grow.

I've also been fortunate to have incredible teachers, professors, mentors, and women leaders throughout my career who challenged me, encouraged me, and helped me see possibilities I might not have seen for myself. Their guidance gave me the confidence to take risks, pursue new opportunities, and continue pushing myself professionally.

Looking back, I've learned that success is never a solo journey. It's built on the support, encouragement, and belief of others, which is why mentoring and supporting others is something that's very important to me today.

One of the best pieces of career advice I ever received was to get comfortable being uncomfortable. I first heard that during my MBA program, and it has stuck with me throughout my career.

I've learned that careers are rarely linear, and that's okay. I've worked across education, entrepreneurship, and corporate leadership, and some of the best opportunities came from taking paths I never could have planned. I've pivoted several times throughout my career, and each time it ultimately led to something better.

I think there's a lot of pressure to stay the course, even when something isn't working. But I've learned not to be afraid of change. Whether it was a job, a city, an industry, or another major life decision, some of my biggest periods of growth came from recognizing that something wasn't the right fit and having the courage to move on. More often than not, there was something better waiting on the other side.

One piece of advice I would give young women entering the industry is to stay curious and never stop learning. Right now, AI is transforming almost every industry, so even if you're not in a technical role, it's important to understand how these technologies are changing the way we work, communicate, and create value. You don't need to be an expert, but you should be able to have an informed conversation about it and understand its potential impact on your field.

I would also encourage women to be open to opportunities that may not fit perfectly into their original career plan. Some of the most valuable experiences in my career came from taking on roles that challenged me and pushed me outside my comfort zone.

Finally, don't underestimate the importance of building relationships and finding mentors. Skills and experience matter, but so does having people who can offer guidance, provide perspective, and help you navigate different stages of your career. The combination of continuous learning, adaptability, and a strong network will take you much further than trying to have everything figured out from the start.

One of the biggest opportunities in my field right now is the ability to use AI and data to create more personalized and meaningful customer experiences at scale. For years, marketers have talked about delivering the right message to the right customer at the right time, and we're now seeing technologies emerge that make that possible in entirely new ways.

At the same time, one of the biggest challenges is keeping pace with the speed of change. Technology is evolving rapidly, customer expectations are constantly shifting, and leaders have to be willing to continuously learn and adapt. I've always appreciated something Indra Nooyi has spoken about throughout her career—the importance of staying curious and continuing to learn, regardless of how much experience you have. I think that's especially relevant today and very clear with all the education and initiatives I have taken in my career thus far.

The companies and leaders that will succeed are the ones that can embrace innovation while maintaining trust, authenticity, and a deep understanding of the customers they serve, we need to make sure not to lose sight of the customer at every point.

For me, it really comes down to honesty and doing something that matters. I've never been motivated by selling something just for the sake of selling it. I want to feel connected to the purpose behind the work and know that it's creating real value for people.

That's one of the reasons I enjoy working in telecommunications. Access to information and connectivity has become so fundamental to modern life. It influences how people learn, work, access healthcare, stay informed, and maintain relationships. We often take it for granted, but reliable connectivity is increasingly the foundation for opportunity. It's rewarding to know that the products and services we're building help people participate more fully in today's world.

Personally, I also try to approach life with integrity and kindness. I believe in showing up authentically, working hard, and leaving a positive impact wherever I can. At the end of the day, success is important, but it's even more meaningful when you're contributing to something that genuinely improves people's lives.