Vic Fichman

I think my success is a product of, one, my upbringing and my parents - they deserve a lot of credit for the lessons they've taught me. But I also think it comes from being willing to work hard and always trying to find a reason or a way to have fun in what I'm doing and enjoy what I'm doing at any moment. I think you can overcome a lot of adversity in situations if you are enjoying what you're doing and you really believe in what you're doing. And I think just having kind of an optimistic outlook on things helps too. Obviously there's always going to be hardships out there, and you can't escape problems and challenges and all of that, but I do try to look at things with kind of a glass half full mentality, try to find the positive in any situation, and it tends to bring other positive situations, I think, if you just try to have that outlook.

The best career advice I've received is from my dad, who has always encouraged me to try new things, and if I'm interested in something, to try it out. If it ends up being something I truly like, then you kind of open up a pathway for yourself. He's instilled a no-fear attitude in me of just not being afraid to try things and not being afraid to put yourself out there. That, and the fact that he's always driven me, my brother, and my sister to be the hardest working person - whether that's in sports or in a professional sense. I do think that one of the best things you can do for yourself is work hard, and not because of anybody else other than yourself. You know, just to prove to yourself that you can do it, and because you owe it to yourself to give the best effort that you have to give.

I think in tech, it's really important that young women stay confident in themselves, no matter what's thrown at them. It can be intimidating to step into tech, because one, there's a lot of really, really smart people in tech, and two, because it is kind of male-dominated in a lot of ways. That can be intimidating, but that doesn't mean that you don't belong there. Just because you feel some fear, maybe a little intimidation, doesn't mean you don't belong there. So trust yourself, and believe in yourself. Nobody's gonna believe in you more than you, so I would say that's the biggest thing - just trust yourself, believe in yourself, believe that you belong there, because you do.

I think authenticity is probably my number one value. I've always been myself, and I think that has lent itself to me finding myself in leadership positions. People can sense if you're being yourself or you're not being yourself. And because I show up authentically as myself, very consistently, that leads people to trust in what I'm saying and trust in what I'm doing, because it's my truth. So I would say the number one value that I have is being authentically myself, and never straying from that. Listening to myself, listening to my intuition, and trusting that I can make the right decisions for myself. I think if everybody can do that, you will find yourself in good places.