Humble Beginnings
The CEOs and senior GovCon leaders of today weren't always sitting in the corner office. They weren't born in suits with a handbook for success and a direct path to leadership. In fact, before many of these executives came into positions of powers, they had rather humble beginnings -- no corporate family tree or unlimited access. Many had to find their way on their own with little to fall back on. This podcast will share the stories of high school part-time work, first jobs and early-career decisions, decades before the CEO appointments and the board memberships. We'll learn about the unconventional paths to success, the ones most of us can relate to.
Humble Beginnings
Shawn Purvis' Transformational Leadership Relies on Lifelong Values: 'Family, Faith, Hard Work and Doing Good to Others'
In this episode of "Humble Beginnings," we sit down with Shawn Purvis, president and CEO of QinetiQ US, as she shares her upbringing in Northern Virginia under the values of "family, faith, hard work and doing good to others."
Purvis' parents both worked for IBM, introducing her to computers and the world of technology around the age of 7. Outside of academics -- which came relatively easy for Purvis -- she talks about how she learned to be "comfortable being uncomfortable" as an introvert by joining the cheerleading squad and eventually serving as captain. It opened up a "whole new world" for her, and a lesson she'd carry with her throughout her career.
Noticing a lack of women of color in technology and with positive influence from her parents and a true knack for math and science, Purvis pursued a computer science degree at Hampton University on scholarship, jumped right into her field with Lockheed Martin after graduation, and soon after, received her master's degree in information systems. Purvis shares her career achievements to follow, but also what she had to overcome as a leader -- like the need to achieve perfection and being an introverted communicator.
Tune in to hear how her early beginnings, career turning points, foundational values and learnings, and love of teaching ultimately led Purvis' career journey straight to the C-suit.