Celebrate Pure Leaders for International Women’s Day

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, a day dedicated to honoring the achievements and resilience of women across the globe, Pure Storage is proud to spotlight the extraordinary contributions of women within our organization. This year, under the theme “Inspire Inclusion,” we delve into the significance of International Women’s Day through a special Q&A session with four Pure leaders who make up some of our esteemed female executives. These inspiring leaders share their personal reflections on what International Women’s Day means to them, offering insights into their journeys, the challenges they’ve overcome, and their visions for a more inclusive and equitable future. 

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is Inspire Inclusion. How can women and allies inspire inclusion in their organization and in the broader technology ecosystem?

Niki Armstrong, Chief Administration & Legal Officer: I believe creating inclusive workplaces starts way before the building of DEI programs or goal setting—it starts with hiring. We must be incredibly intentional about recruitment processes that build in diversity goals and objectives, building diverse pipelines and widening the funnel at the top to create space for diversity in all aspects. 

Now transitioning to building inclusivity into the workplace, it comes down to two things: creating space for people to show up as their authentic selves, and then building programs that sustain and support that i.e., if someone speaks up about something, the organization needs to be enabled to support that individual. Also, very tactically, it looks like a leader conducting meetings where they explicitly create opportunities for others to speak, taking extra time to go around the room offering airspace for an individual that may need inviting before sharing ideas. 

Amy Fowler, GM, Commercial Line of Business: One key way to inspire inclusion is with candor and authenticity. The more that others can identify with the real world, human challenges—both in our daily lives, with our families or kids, etc.—and, with navigating the gendered world we live in—the easier it is to find common ground, which I think can translate into inclusion.

Wendy Stusrud, VP, Global Partner Sales: It is imperative that we create a culture that inspires everyone to champion diversity, equality, equity, and belonging. We need to show up each day in the spirit of inclusivity and innovation, a combination that strengthens both teams and outcomes. 

Mona Chu, Chief Accounting Officer: Women and allies can inspire inclusion by prioritizing the recruitment, development, and retention of diverse talent. Creating opportunities for women to move into leadership and decision-making roles, alongside establishing a comprehensive support system, plays a pivotal role in fostering a more inclusive culture. This proactive approach ensures a variety of perspectives are heard, driving innovation and reflecting the diverse society we live in.

Amy Rushall, Area VP, Australia and New Zealand and Executive Sponsor, Women@Pure ERG: This year’s theme is really close to my heart and something that I have advocated for throughout my career. The first thing that needs to happen is for organizations to ensure that there is a robust framework for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) with measurable goals and objectives to ensure accountability and transparency. At Pure Storage for example, we’ve built our DEI program around three pillars: diverse representation, equitable policies and practices and an inclusive culture. We hold our leaders accountable against these pillars in the same way that they are measured on their business goals.

For the broader industry, one way to encourage inclusion is for company boards of directors and investors to hold companies accountable for DEI. We are clearly seeing progress – last year, the number of women CEOs in Fortune 500 companies crossed 10% for the first time, an 18% improvement from the previous year – but this also shows we still have a long way to go.

As a leader at Pure, what advice would you give to women who are earlier in their careers?

Niki: I’d say learn to speak up—do that early and often. Find a mentor and sponsor—and most importantly, know (or learn) the difference between the two and how to leverage both effectively. Advocate for yourself and be okay with failing. I think collectively as women we have a huge opportunity to celebrate failing more—share the stories of when something didn’t go perfectly, how did you respond, how did you get back on track because we know we have all been there. Learning through failing is so powerful and something we need to do more of.

Amy F: I guess I’d say that you don’t have to be OK with the status quo in order to navigate it effectively and try to change (on a macro level) it at the same time. For example—I’m often the only woman in a room of dozens of leaders. I don’t have to like it (especially because the data says diversity is good for business)—but if I assumed that being the only woman was going to impact my ability to be effective, or let it distract me, that wouldn’t be helpful, either. As a woman in technology, there’s a good chance you’ll be in the minority in many different settings. Use it as motivation, don’t let it distract you.

Wendy: Early on and throughout your career, foster connections with those who empower you to do your best work. Take risks and stay persistent, even when you’re confronted with obstacles. Never stop learning, and always be true to who you are.

Mona: My advice for women early in their careers is to remain authentic and resilient. Don’t hesitate to express your ideas and stand firm in the face of challenges. Your unique perspective is essential, and perseverance is key to overcoming obstacles and making a meaningful impact in your professional journey.

Amy R: Be bold, be confident and don’t be afraid to speak up. The technology industry may still be male-dominated but we have many shining examples of women who have made an impact and have contributed to the success of their companies. So step up when you see an opportunity, stay on top of your game especially with emerging technologies like AI, and have confidence that you can do a job as good as and even better than any male colleagues.

What is your International Women’s Day message?

Niki: I’m going to borrow words from a leader and woman I admire, Michelle Obama. In her 2012 commencement speech at Oregon State, she said, “Success isn’t about how your life looks to others. It’s about how it feels to you…being successful isn’t about being impressive, it’s about being inspired. That’s what it means to be true to yourself.” These will be my words to live by this month! 

Amy F: Don’t ever make decisions based on fear. Make decisions based on hope and possibility. Make decisions based on what should happen, not what shouldn’t.

Wendy: I believe every voice deserves to be heard and valued. For those who don’t have the opportunity or ability, we need to step up and be their voice. I believe inspiring inclusion is a collective effort; inclusivity should be about everyone, everywhere. It is not about excluding anyone; it is about including all of us. Let’s make this happen with each step, each effort. Let’s build the winning formula together.

Mona: This International Women’s Day, let’s honor the strength, courage, and uniqueness of women around the globe. Celebrate your achievements and the distinct impact you make. It’s a day to reflect on our progress, support each other, and continue striving for equality and inclusion in every sphere of life.

Amy R: My message to all women and our allies is: Just get on with it. We know that in the world we live in today, successful companies are built on diversity, embracing innovations and ideas from all over. We are all in this together and together we can make the world a better place for everyone.