Her Story
About Susan
Susan Nares is a telecommunications and technology leader with more than 30 years of experience spanning telecommunications management, project coordination, strategic sourcing, procurement, and technology operations. Based in Las Vegas, she currently serves with Light & Wonder (LNW), where she applies her expertise in advanced buying, telecommunications, vendor management, and operational planning. Throughout her career, Nares has supported complex hospitality and gaming environments, specializing in technology solutions, infrastructure management, and initiatives that improve efficiency, accountability, and business performance.
Nares began her career in a traditionally male-dominated telecommunications field, working closely with telephone technicians during a period of significant industry transformation from traditional voice systems to advanced digital technologies. Through curiosity, continuous learning, and strong collaboration, she progressed into leadership roles focused on project management, systems analysis, troubleshooting, budgeting, forecasting, scheduling, and vendor relationships. Her expertise includes VoIP technology, telecommunications systems, quality control, regulatory compliance, database design, and developing technical and operational strategies that align with organizational goals.
A lifelong learner, Nares has built her expertise through community college education, industry certifications, technical training, and ongoing professional development in areas such as programming, leadership, interpersonal skills, and artificial intelligence. She is recognized for her commitment to reliability, accountability, respect, and teamwork, believing that strong communication and proactive problem-solving are essential to success. Passionate about helping others succeed, Nares emphasizes recognizing strengths, supporting teams, and building trusted relationships with colleagues, vendors, and stakeholders while continuing to adapt to the evolving technology landscape.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Susan
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to stay curious and never stop learning. Success requires adaptability, reliability, continuous improvement, and the ability to embrace change. Staying informed and prepared helps me navigate challenges and grow in an ever-evolving industry.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to stay curious and never stop learning. Build strong technical and financial knowledge, develop meaningful relationships, and be prepared to solve challenges along the way. Show up consistently, remain reliable, and continue improving while staying adaptable to the changes ahead.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges and opportunities in my field today are driven by rapid change and evolving technology, especially artificial intelligence. I have proactively expanded my knowledge of AI to stay competitive and see its potential to improve productivity and create more efficient ways of working. I encourage professionals to explore different AI tools and understand how they can best support their goals.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are family, reliability, accountability, and respect. My family is the foundation of everything I do, and I bring the same care, responsibility, and commitment into my professional life. I believe in being supportive, available, and treating others and company resources with integrity while continuously learning and growing as a leader.
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