Rita Martinez Solon's Story
The Journey So Far:
Professionally was mainly politics which in the US is mostly volunteering.I have served in large federal organizations as an official appointed by the President if we won. Lately, I have helped many start-ups, which is like volunteering as there is little money. I admire those who try to build!
Job Profile:
I served in two Presidential Administrations: a speechwriter to the Secretary of Energy and worked with tech transfer at the National Labs. My professsional life is currently about working with a start-up dealing with a new signal modulation tech that addresses the spectrum/broadband crunch.
The Decisions That Matter
Important decisions are different from good. I entered national politics as staff. It is like a rollercoaster ride. Losing the race means it was a waste of time with no reward. But it is important and it is service to the ideas and beliefs that one thinks safeguards society. So it is all good.
Career Profile:
I call myself Start-up Operations Director, which means I do a little of everything. We are currently raising our last seed round of funding and this takes very different talents then what I have done in the past. When you are a government official you do not have to worry about source of funding!
Degrees That Matter:
No, this has not been my journey. But, the world would not work without the dedicated expert so I honor the effort to learn more and be proficient.
Done Differently:
Be less scared that my background was not a steller match & grab an opportunity more forcefully and eagerly. I see where many people were no better than I would have been at a job & my desire to bring integrity and hard work to an effort would have been a great asset. Go for it and keep getting up!
Plans For The Future:
I believe I will be working with a successful, innovative IP company that will change telecommunications as we know it. Our technology is a new spiral waveform pattern that can carry more bandwidth and vastly reduces forward error correction. I think it will be a noted disruptive technology play.
Changes In The Professional Environment:
I think people brought more respect to the workplace for experience. Experience means better judgment. Good judgment & dedication to hard work, to staying with it until it is right, is fading-as is a basic integrity. We are forgetting who we serve when we work, what we make better for someone!
Growth Strategy:
Taking risks is important& our technology is new. Also, living in Washington, DC there are many think tanks & lectures on many subjects. Also many wonderful art exhibits that keep me thinking and inspired. I also stay involved with national politics and am involved in the US Presidential campaign.
Other Thoughts:
SiliconIndia is best of breed: interesting, informative and striving. The same things I try to bring to my efforts & life. At this moment I am raising Astrapi Corporation's last seed round & preparing for Series A and could use any advice. Good luck to all and keep building!
Required Reading:
I am interested in energy issues. The US Department of Energy started an R&D effort headed by Dr. Arun Majumdar (born and educated in India) the first Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E), both a tribute to him and to the India education system. http://arpa-e.energy.gov/
Advice For New Professionals:
I do not know. Hopefully you find a good boss and learn what a well run organization is. Life is a long journey--good lessons are good, but you can learn from disaster and failure as well. If you are young, make a change; do not go stale early in your career. Do not buy too much-stay maneuverable.
Role Model:
I do not have a strong education in science, but I was lucky as a speechwriter to the Secretary of Energy to meet so many engineers and scientist. I was fascinated with their expertise and deep knowledge. I feel the world would be a better place if we all had more knowledge and respect for science.
|
Community
