Ancestry CEO Deborah Liu tells Big Tech how it can do a better job recruiting women
Throughout your career, you’ve often been a stranger in a strange world. Did being the only woman or only person of color in the room shape your leadership style? Did your “only” status also complicate efforts to feel like you belonged there?
We all fear failure. My biggest fear was rejection, that I wasn’t the right person for this role. Stakes were high. You’re announced as CEO of a storied company with 39 years of history and an important brand. I had no idea what the company was like. I had never met anyone in person, never set foot in any of our buildings. I am used to being prepared for everything. To enter a role where I felt so unprepared was like flying without a net.
A record number of companies, worldwide, went public in 2021. At one point, Ancestry.com was public. Blackstone, a major private-equity firm, presently owns a majority stake. When and why might you go public again? All companies need to really think about what they’re offering. It’s changing a lot. Generation Z employees want meaning in their jobs–and to see that their company’s vision is aligned with what they care about.Reinforcing and repeating the message is incredibly important. People here are sometimes actually hand correcting records. It’s easy to get into the weeds. The greater mission is helping people learn more about their grandparents and the history of this country.
Sometimes you feel like you’re failing at work or at home. I went through this, too. We have to say, ‘It’s okay to have torn feelings and doubts. But let’s work through this together.’