When Martha Dennis entered the telecommunications industry in 1976, it looked a lot different than it does now.
“I have watched it (San Diego) grow from little satellite communications businesses to a pivotal world center in telecom,” said Dennis, the current vice-president of the San Diego Telecom Council.
One thing hasn’t changed; the opportunity for women to excel in an industry which is constantly redefining and reinventing itself. And this is something that makes Dennis very happy.
“I see our local telecom industry continuing to mature and maintain its role as a major element of our regional economy, and it is a delight to find that women play significant roles in many of the strong companies that make up the San Diego telecom powerhouse,” she said
The telecom industry itself encompasses many disciplines, including wireless, Internet, and voice, data and video. More than 500 companies are located in San Diego, employing close to 40,000 people. And of those in the forefront of the industry, quite a few are women, working to break barriers and establish San Diego as the telecom capital of the world.
One such power player is Vicki Marion, CEO of RC Networks, Inc., a leading provider of high-speed Internet access solutions. Based in San Diego, the privately held, venture-backed company was founded in February l997, although Marion assumed the CEO role only recently. Prior to joining RC Networks, Marion was the president and CEO of Jabra.
“Being a woman in telecom, I can tell you that this industry prides itself on supporting all of those who work to develop it, regardless of gender,” Marion said.
– Building Community Through Interest Groups
One of those working to develop the community is Camille Sobrian, director of marketing for Matthews/Mark and a co-chair for the mobile wireless special interest group with the Telecom Council.
Sobrian was at a Telecom Council headliner event last November when she told Telecom Council President Marco Thompson that not only was she excited by the technologies discussed, she wanted to find out how she could get involved. Thompson immediately introduced her to Patti Lazard, business development director at KPMG, and together they laid the groundwork for the special interest groups that would support the Telecom Council.
“Marco saw the need for focused vertical groups to meet to discuss their own technologies and specific interests,” said Sobrian. “We initially started six, and now, after less than a year, there are 23 very active groups holding regular meetings.”
Being involved in something that shows immediate results has been gratifying, she said. It has also benefited her work at Matthews/Mark, a public relations and advertising agency headquartered in San Diego.
“I am able to stay in touch with the key players in the industry, and also help my clients get visibility. More importantly though, my role as co-founder of the Telecom Council special interest groups has helped my own leadership skills,” she said.
Sobrian feels that for women in particular, the special interest groups offer an excellent professional development and leadership opportunity as well as a great way to get connected and gain greater profile,not only for their companies but also for themselves.
Patti Lazard would agree. “The telecom industry provides much more equal opportunity, and we see it especially in the “C” level , CEO, CFO, and others,” she said.
– Driving the Growth, Influence on Industry
It was natural for Lazard to become involved in the Telecom Council because of KPMG’s industry related clientele. Once there, she was pleased to see how supportive the Telecom Council was to women in leadership positions.
As a co-chair of the mobile wireless special interest group, Lazard feels that she and Sobrian are examples of women defining an ever-changing industry, but they certainly aren’t the only ones.
“Just look at the list of special interest groups on the Telecom Council Web site, and you will see many women in power positions,” she said. “And it is the special interest groups that are helping to drive the growth of the Telecom Council and its influence on the industry.”
Both women say the rapid growth of the special interest groups, combined with changes in the industry related to technology and new trends, may force them to re-evaluate the groups and perhaps merge some and divide others.
“By putting in place two to four CEOs and other industry leaders as co-chairs for each special interest group, we are assured of strong leadership and knowledge of today’s hot topics,” said Sobrian. “As technologies develop, the focus can change, and it might be logical to blend what used to be two separate special interest groups.”
Ellie Sanchez, director of marketing communications at Zucotto Wireless, Inc. has also seen the evolution of the special interest groups and understands their intrinsic value, not only to the industry but on a personal basis as well.
“Since joining Zucotto Wireless and learning the technologies and products driving the market, I’ve found the opportunities in the wireless market are endless,” she said. “I thoroughly enjoy cutting-edge technologies and the people who are involved in the development of these technologies.”
– Opportunities for Women in High-Tech
It was that satisfaction that led Sanchez to become involved in co-chairing the wireless semiconductor special interest group for the Telecom Council as well as the Women in High Tech Marketing special interest group for the High Tech Marketing Association.
Jennifer Beckey, former CEO of Maptrace and co-chair of the Telecom Council Business Development special interest group, has also enhanced her contribution to the telecom industry by joining an organization whose mission is to accelerate opportunities for women entrepreneurs in life sciences and high-tech.
As the executive director of the San Diego chapter of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, Beckey sees an opportunity for women to take advantage of the resources available, and through strategic networking, achieve their goals.
The focus on goals is driving Carol Fuller, CEO and founder of start-up Ceyx Technologies, an optical communications company creating optical and electronic interfaces for computer networks.
“When you look at a list of cities that are good for startups, San Diego is one of the best,” said Fuller. “There is tremendous support for telecom and agencies that assist and promote the growth of new start-ups.”
Appreciation for the resources supporting those in the telecom industry was something these top women executives agreed on. With San Diego’s encouragement, they looked forward to leading the industry by developing cutting edge technologies and forging key strategic partnerships.
“We (Ceyx) chose San Diego for a reason, and I’m looking forward to the day that we can make a contribution and help our customers communicate faster and more effectively,” Fuller emphasized. “That’s what gets me up in the morning.”
Benjamin is a writer for TheCyberScene. com.
