Four members of the Haas community were recently recognized by the San Francisco Business Times as the most influential women in Bay Area business.
The newspaper recognized Joy Chen, BS 87, CEO of Yes To Inc.; Carrie Dolan, BS 87, MBA 97, CFO of the Lending Club; Mary Francis, MBA 06, chief corporate counsel, Chevron; and Maria Nondorf, executive director of the Haas School's Center for Financial Reporting and Management. They are among 140 women who the Business Times will honor at a dinner in San Francisco June 6.
Chen (left) told the Business Times her proudest accomplishment was supporting Second Wind, an urban ministry concept led by two talented ministers who took on the challenge to fulfill a need within San Francisco. Chen spoke earlier this year at the student-organized Women in Leadership Conference at Haas.
Dolan (right) gave this advice to women seeking to advance in their careers: "I encourage woman to work on knowing themselves, being clear about what they want and understanding how others perceive them. It is important to be confident about your strengths and proactively work to make those strengths visible."
Francis (left) said her female role model was former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. "She didn't let early views of women as lawyers hold her back," Francis told the Business Times. "She was expert at mediating consensus, taking a long view, and choosing only battles that mattered to her."
Nondorf (right) said her female role model is Julia Child. Asked how she uses her influence, Nondorf replied, "I preach the importance of financial literacy." Her personal social media strategy: "Don't be afraid to say what no one else will."
Nondorf also was recently highlighted in a list of the "Top 20 Women Professors in California," compiled by Online Schools California.