Diane Greene (Google SVP Google Cloud) – Diane Greene Shares Her Career Journey (Mar 2018)

Chapters

Abstract

Diane Greene: A Trailblazer in Technology and a Champion for Women

Diane Greene, a renowned technologist and entrepreneur, has been bestowed with the prestigious AnitaB.org Technical Leadership Award, a testament to her extraordinary contributions to the technology sector. This accolade recognizes her technical acumen, leadership, societal impact, and her role as a beacon of inspiration for women in technology. Greene’s journey, spanning over three decades, encompasses groundbreaking technical accomplishments, profound leadership skills, and a relentless drive to challenge gender norms in the tech industry. Her story, from her early interest in computer science to leading transformative companies like VMware and Bebop, underscores the power of passion and perseverance. This article delves into Greene’s multifaceted career, highlighting her technical innovations, leadership philosophy, and unwavering commitment to empowering women in technology.

Introduction of Diane Greene and the AnitaB.org Technical Leadership Award

Diane Greene’s receipt of the AnitaB.org Technical Leadership Award is a crowning achievement that recognizes her exceptional technical contributions and leadership. The award, which is the highest honor bestowed by the organization, acknowledges Greene’s significant impact on society and her role in inspiring women in the technology sector.

Technical Accomplishments

Greene’s technical expertise is marked by her pivotal role in several successful companies, including VMware, vXtreme, and Bebop. Her pioneering work in streaming media, enterprise applications, and virtualization technology has left an indelible mark on the tech industry.

Dan Pitt, chairperson of the selection committee, introduced Greene as the winner of the award, highlighting her outstanding technical credentials as an engineer and computer scientist. He mentioned her success in founding and leading multiple tech companies, including vXtreme, VMware, and Bebop, which was acquired by Google. Pitt emphasized the profound impact of her companies on the IT industry, particularly in revolutionizing data center virtualization and cloud computing.

Leadership and Impact

Greene’s leadership is characterized by her ability to found companies, build strong teams, and drive innovation. Her leadership at VMware, particularly, revolutionized online experiences and significantly impacted the world. Her dedication to societal welfare and human condition improvement distinguishes her as an exceptional leader.

Greene’s leadership approach is passionate about using technology to improve society and advance human well-being. She leads with a purpose-driven mindset, focusing on the mission rather than personal gain or power. Her compassion and flexibility are demonstrated by her decision to bring her baby to work, inspiring a culture of work-life integration within her companies.

Inspiration to Women in Technology

Greene’s journey, balancing her career and motherhood, serves as an inspiration to countless women in tech. She challenges traditional stereotypes and advocates for inclusivity, demonstrating that women can successfully manage both professional and personal responsibilities.

Greene serves as a role model for women in technology by embodying success in both her career and family life. She champions equal opportunities and encourages women to pursue tech careers by showing that it’s possible to be a successful woman in a male-dominated field.

Early Influences and Reflections on Gender in Computer Science

Greene’s initial attraction to computer science stemmed from its potential for innovation. She noted a decline in women’s participation as the field became more monetarily and power-driven, setting herself apart by focusing on the joy of creation and making a difference.

Greene shared her reflections on her 30-year career in tech, emphasizing the importance of creating value, enjoying the process, and working with respected colleagues. She stressed the value of curiosity, holding on to one’s vision, and giving her best ideas a chance. Greene believes that money and status are byproducts of success, while the people around her and the work itself are the true measures of fulfillment.

Greene’s early career began in the late 1970s, initially programming true computers and later working in the offshore oil industry as a naval architect. She self-taught herself Fortran and worked on modeling and analyzing offshore rigs for 100-year storms, which today would be considered 20-year storms. However, she faced gender discrimination in the oil industry, as women were not allowed to have sleeping quarters offshore. This meant that her male colleagues could oversee the execution of their work and hers, while she had to rely on their accounts of how it went.

Diane Greene’s Journey in Tech

Greene’s diverse career path, which included a decade in windsurfing and naval architecture before moving to tech, underscores her adaptability and pursuit of passion. Her experiences in the early tech industry at UC Berkeley and her innovative work in low-bandwidth streaming video technology highlight the opportunities for groundbreaking work in the field.

Leaving the oil industry due to its rigid practices, Greene sought a more dynamic environment and immersed herself in the windsurfing community in Hawaii. She was involved in developing innovative windsurfing equipment and experienced the thrill of windsurfing in massive waves during the Women’s World Surfing Championships. Her most memorable experience was windsurfing solo across the open ocean from Molokai to Maui. Later, she joined Windsurfing International as the head of engineering, combining her passion for windsurfing with her engineering expertise.

Navigating Gender Bias in Tech Leadership

Greene’s experiences in navigating the male-dominated tech industry shed light on the subtle and explicit biases she faced. Her perseverance and focus on goals despite challenges, and her advocacy for balancing social issues with business objectives, demonstrate her resilience and leadership prowess.

In the 1980s, when Greene entered computer science, female enrollment in the field was high (35%) but later declined. She attributes this decline to the influx of money and power in the field, which attracted a more aggressive and competitive culture. For Greene, her motivation in pursuing computer science was the thrill of creating and doing, not the allure of power or wealth.

Diane Greene’s Return to Computer Science

After leaving the oil industry, Greene returned to academia for a second master’s degree in computer science. The 1980s, with its open and uncharted atmosphere, proved welcoming to women in the field. Opportunities abounded, with fresh opportunities to make a difference and contribute.

The Advantages of a Pre-Status Quo Tech Industry

The lack of established norms meant ample room for innovation and creativity without pressure to conform. Greene’s master’s thesis on spatial data access methods published in 1989 exemplified the field’s open nature. The advent of Google Maps in 2005 validated the potential glimpsed in the early days.

Early Startup Success and Industry Collaborations

Greene co-founded her first startup, developing low-bandwidth streaming video technology. The startup’s sale to Microsoft for $75 million underlined the promise of the field. Collaborations with brilliant minds, such as Richard Stallman, characterized this period. Sybase gave Greene the opportunity to partner with a brilliant microsystems engineer and leverage cutting-edge technologies. Seeing the value of partnerships at the engineering level, Greene continued this approach throughout her career.

The Cloud as a Catalyst for Collaboration

Greene emphasizes the cloud’s potential as a powerful mechanism for facilitating partnerships. Easy sharing, open source, and well-defined APIs encourage and simplify collaboration. VMware’s success partly stemmed from its effective partnering enabled by cloud technologies.

Embracing Calculated Risks and Learning from Failure

Greene advocates embracing change and embracing better ideas, even if they come with perceived risks. Rather than fearing failure, Greene calculates the potential upside, worst-case scenarios, and the opportunity cost of inaction. Tandem’s missed opportunity to transition to Unix-based systems due to management’s risk aversion served as a reminder of the importance of embracing change.

Embracing Change and Navigating Challenges in Business: Lessons from Diane Greene’s Entrepreneurial Journeys

Greene’s experience sailing revealed the importance of swiftly adapting to unexpected circumstances to stay competitive and succeed. Her personal maxim to confront problems directly has been successful, as seen in negotiations where tackling the biggest issue upfront facilitated resolution.

As a co-founder and CEO of three successful startups, Greene learned various lessons. At V Extreme, she realized the importance of alignment among co-founders and the dispensability of individuals through her experience at V Extreme, where a departing co-founder was seamlessly replaced by a talented candidate.

At VMware, Greene spearheaded the virtualization revolution, emphasizing the need for non-disruptive adoption to achieve market acceptance. VMware faced a crisis when IBM’s IP lawyers prevented the company from going to market. However, Greene explored alternative routes with IBM’s partners, resulting in a successful enterprise launch.

Greene’s emphasis on creating a collaborative, transparent, and empowering culture at VMware led to increased collaboration, initiative-taking, and ownership among employees. She maintained high standards and ensured that everyone felt valued, leading to employee pride and motivation to deliver excellence. Greene highlights the importance of an open culture where valuable insights can come from anyone, as demonstrated by a receptionist providing valuable information about conversations with industry analysts. Greene leads by example, prioritizing a healthy work-life balance. She openly left work for personal activities, encouraging employees to do the same, leading to increased happiness and productivity.

Greene’s final startup, Bebop, aimed to reinvent and enhance enterprise applications. She immersed herself in design thinking, becoming an expert in the field.

Diane Greene’s Reflections on Women in Tech and Bias

Despite her accomplishments as CEO of VMware, Greene encountered gender bias from men who doubted her capabilities due to her appearance and communication style. Greene navigated bias by staying focused on her goals and adapting her approach when necessary, a skill she learned from sailing. Emphasizing execution and delivery can level the playing field and demonstrate competence, despite bias.

Leaders must actively promote unity and discourage polarization, as demonstrated by Lieutenant General Saveria’s address following an incident of racism at the Air Force Academy. Recognizing the biological responsibility of women in giving birth, companies should provide adequate family leave, breastfeeding and bottle-feeding provisions, on-site daycare, and flexible hours to support working parents.

The decline in women in computing can be attributed to early education and attitudes towards science. Parents and educators play a vital role in encouraging girls to pursue STEM fields and providing role models like Judy Lawson, who inspired Greene to pursue sailing and instilled a sense of self-sufficiency. Greene’s parents’ encouragement and her experiences at the Key School allowed her to develop her independence and passion for engineering. Role models, like Dr. Tom Simpson, further influenced her decision to pursue an engineering career.

Polarization of views and the lack of a healthy work-life balance contribute to the challenges women face in Silicon Valley. De-escalating polarization and establishing healthier work-life balance are essential for creating a more hospitable environment for women.

Diane Greene’s Insights on Empowering Women in Computer Science

– Engineers and scientists are made, not born: Greene emphasizes the importance of nurturing talent and providing opportunities for girls to develop their skills in STEM fields.

– Sailing played a significant role in developing her sense of power and self-confidence: Greene highlights the importance of physical activities and outdoor experiences in building self-esteem and leadership skills in girls.

– Reshaping expectations for girls: Greene stresses the need to challenge societal stereotypes and encourage girls to pursue their interests in STEM fields without fear of judgment.

– Teaching girls to think for themselves and develop a strong sense of self-worth: Greene believes that girls should be taught to trust their instincts, respect their own voices, and view obstacles as solvable problems.

– The growing demand for computer scientists: Greene draws attention to the rapid growth of the tech industry and the increasing shortage of computer scientists. She emphasizes the urgency of attracting more women to the field to meet this demand.

– Celebrating success stories: Greene cites the example of Maria Clave, president of Harvey Mudd College, who successfully restructured the college’s curriculum to attract female computer science students. She emphasizes the need to replicate and celebrate such initiatives.

– The Grace Hopper Celebration: Greene acknowledges the importance of the Grace Hopper Celebration as a platform for women in computing to share knowledge, experiences, and inspiration.

– Personal fulfillment and meaningful goals: Greene stresses the importance of personal fulfillment through full engagement and dedication to worthwhile goals. She encourages the audience to pursue tech careers with a sense of purpose and responsibility.

Notes by: Simurgh