pursue their dreams, specifically scale and help them make a We want to make sure we're in areas of STEM. If I didn’t difference in society. That's fun, not laggards when it comes work in tech, but could still do awesome, and amazing. to technology, but also want something like this full time and to make sure we do right for help others along, especially What are the biggest the user. We’ve learned that those who society labels as challenges you face in tech? it’s easy to build technology, disenfranchised or unable to We live in a world where things but we need to ensure that we make it, that would be my life. are moving fast. Before, it would build technology that solves take years to develop a product problems, delivers value, and Many times people say to me and go-to market. Now, that’s drives differentiation. Rashida Hodge “Oh, you're not going to make changing from months to VP, Watson AI Strategic Partnerships and it. Your mother is a teenage weeks. In some cases, the speed Any advice for those looking Partner Product Management, IBM parent,” and many other societal of change continues to be a to get into tech? Be open, labels. But people invested in challenge for many enterprises. be present, and have a spirit of me. They mentored me. They While they’re fascinated and exploration. We often go in to FOR STARTERS, CAN YOU TELL US to their platform, drive scale of I’ve gathered over the last 15 saw potential in me before I saw excited with the ability to fields or study things because we WHAT IBM’S WATSON DISCOVERY Watson, and differentiate value years. These experiences allow potential in myself and because innovate, many companies are what we see. I grew up on FOR SALESFORCE DOES? for our joint clients. me to bring a holistic point of of their investment I can do the struggle to keep up with the 32 square miles in St. Thomas, Watson Discovery for Salesforce view and perspective to my same for others. Seeing others pace of innovation that’s U.S. Virgin Islands, but given my is designed to allow agents How did you get into tech? clients in how we solve problems thrive — and this is my focus required to remain competitive. desire to be curious, I’ve been on Salesforce Service Cloud I studied Industrial Engineering and bring solutions to the table. each day — would be a dream. to over 50 countries all over the to resolve customer cases in a at North Carolina State More importantly, while keeping world, said yes to the jobs most quicker, more efficient manner, University where my love for They also let me truly partner What do you like about pace is critical, a business also people say no to, and open using machine learning, natural engineering, solving problems, with our clients, as our working in tech? Well, each needs to ensure they provide myself up to try anything once. language processing, and and technology began. When I collaboration is more than day is different. One of the the right solution, for the right domain customization to ensure started at IBM, I was planning just “here is what we want to things for me is innovation problem, for the right client, at Who would’ve thought a girl we provide case-resolving on getting my Ph.D., and build” or “here is how you can and change. From a tech the right time. with a teenage parent would be recommendations to agents worked part time while getting use IBM Watson AI” but rather perspective, I look back at leading a large AI team? That faster. Clients can now ingest my Masters. I fell in love with “how do you want to reimagine my 15 years at IBM — I‘ve had happened because I’ve always and enrich their company's data the work, the people, and the your client experience” or “how more than 10 jobs. I‘ve had to been open to new experiences. from a variety of sources. experience. At that time, I was do you want your customers upskill and learn new things I’ve always said yes to the new. working in the IBM Systems to interact with your product continuously. The exciting part There’s a Robert Frost quote What do you do at IBM? group, developing customized or platform?” It’s much is that every day is different, I live by: “Two roads diverged I have the opportunity to solutions in support of our IBM more about the end-to-end every year is different, and in a wood, and I took the road advance our Watson technology Personal Computer Division experience and the impact it every job brings an awesome less traveled by.” I think for by working with clients and Operations Team. has on the end user versus just new challenge. For a company people interested in getting into partners to embed Watson focusing on the technology. It like IBM, with 400,000-plus technology, or changing fields, AI into their cloud-based The great thing should never be about the employees, in 170 countries or doing something different, platforms. I work across all our about IBM is technology alone. across the world, not only do say yes. Say yes to those roads ISV and Cloud Providers like the breadth I get to influence how offerings that are less traveled by. Salesforce, Box, Workday, SAP, and depth of What would you do if and products are brought to and others. Ultimately, we work experience you didn’t work in tech? market, but I get to interact with our partners to determine My passion is to help other with clients on a global how we can add intelligence women and people of color 18 THE EXCHANGE THE EXCHANGE 19