Shellye Archambeau's Blog

Being Intentional in Our Work: Hope Is Not a Strategy

Everything we do in life is a choice. Each decision we make along the way is a choice we need to own, because when we do so, we keep the power. Being intentional when we make these choices, whether in our personal or professional lives, is essential. Some choices will require that we be brave, exposing ourselves to the ruthless judgement of others.    

When it comes to successfully juggling different parts of our lives – such as work and home - tough choices about what to prioritize will have to ...

Now Is A Good Time To Take Risks

What does 2008s Great Recession tell us about business risk?

Nows the time to take risks.

And more specifically: crises and recessions are great times to try something new, not only for entrepreneurs with start-up ideas, but also for existing companies considering new initiatives.

Many companies, in fact, are founded at times of crisis. People are willing to try new things. Right now, there are risks being taken in food products, automobiles and other industries. Its a great time to launch a new...

How to Turn Ambition Into Success, According to One of Silicon Valley's First Black Female CEOs

Why 'work-life balance' is a myth, and other insights from Shellye Archambeau's new book, Unapologetically Ambitious.

BY SHELLYE ARCHAMBEAU, AUTHOR, 'UNAPOLOGETICALLY AMBITIOUS' @SHELARCHAMBEAU

Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. Building a company is stressful, scary, and risky, and the odds of succeeding are not in your favor. But after 30 years in the tech industry--14 of those as one of its first female African-American CEOs--I can tell you that it's worth it. I've always...

You’re Ambitious!

There’s a thin line between being ambitious and being aggressive.Well, not necessarily for you, but certainly for those people you encounter in your life journey … and who form perceptions about you. And, if you are female and/or a person of color, the line often is non-existent … which causes challenges if it also affect...

Living with Grief

I hung up the phone excited about the opportunity stemming from that call, when suddenly I felt a wave of loneliness and sadness roll over me. What in the world? It was Friday afternoon. I’d just finished my last scheduled call/Zoom. I’d had an amazing week of great things happening, one right after another, and here I was suddenly on the verge of tears….

Then it struck me as the tears slid down my face, I’d experienced so many highs this week, but here I was alone in my home. I didn’t have ...

Be Intentional: Take Risks To Get The Career You Want

You deserve the career you want, on your terms. It’s there for the taking …

… if you take risks, that is. And if you are intentional.

There are no two ways about it: Vulnerability is an unavoidable side effect of ambition. But if you avoid taking risks, you limit your opportunities.

“In my experience, … wishful thinking — th...

How To Tailor Mentoring Activities To Optimize Effectiveness

A mentor can be a lot of things. Advisor. Sounding board. North star. Catalyst. Naysayer. Cheerleader. Connector. Closer. 

Facts:

·      Mentoring is one of the very best ways to improve a younger employee’s career progress and opportunities.

·      Most companies and people go about it all wrong.

I am a big believer in “choi...

Masters of Scale Rapid Response Transcript – Shellye Archambeau

Click here to listen to the full Masters of Scale Rapid Response episode with Shellye Archambeau.

SHELLYE ARCHAMBEAU: It was horror. It was outrage. It was disbelief, realizing that not only did this happen, but that could have been my son, my son-in-law, my grandson. 

Silence is a problem. The embeddedness of racism and bias throughout our culture as a result of hundreds of years is deep. To unearth, uncover, shine the light and fix, it's going to take time and, frankly, fortitude. 

I believe tha...

How the Board’s Role May Evolve in Times of Crisis

Amid COVID-19, organizations are facing a record number of unprecedented situations—from massive operational pivots to reopening offices to pandemic-related health challenges. In times of crisis, the board’s role often must evolve to support management. But, what governance model is best suited for a pandemic?

In this episode, Shellye Archambeau, board member with Verizon Communications, Okta Inc., Roper Technologies, and Nordstrom, explains how boards may need to evolve and adapt in times of unc...

The Conversation

I first had to have the “The conversation” with my son when he was just 8 years old and in the third grade.  If you have an African American son, you know what I’m talking about.  He had gotten into trouble at school for disrupting class.  When we spoke about it, he said yes, he was laughing and stuff, but he wasn’t the first to do it and there was a bunch of other boys doing it too. But he was the only one to get in trouble.  Right.  He was the only black boy.

“The conversation” is explaining to...