Forty Over 40

Forty Women to Watch Over 40

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Forty Over 40 Asks: 10Qs of Vanessa Alvarez, Marketing Executive at Amazon Web Services

aWelcome to the Forty Over 40 blog. We frequently spotlight one of our honorees and their thoughts on reinvention, mentorship and momentum…plus a peek into what makes them tick.

This Q & A is with Vanessa Alvarez a Marketing Executive at Amazon Web Services who is breaking the ceiling for Latinas. Vanessa is innovating her field of work by helping companies understand the value of cloud computing, and leverage the innovation of technology to increase business value.

1)  What was a pivotal momentum of reinvention for you?

The moment I realized I needed to build a brand in order to establish a career in the tech field. Realizing that your brand is important and represents who you are was a big moment.

2)  Who has been a valuable mentor or sponsor?

I have had many people that have been valuable in my life, both personally and professionally, too many to just focus on one.

3)  What is your biggest goal right now?

To help move the needle on Latinos being represented in the technology industry. It’s critical that Latinos be a part of the future, and that’s technology.

4)  What time do you typically wake up? What do you do every morning?

I wake up at 5 am, remind myself of what I’m grateful for, fuel up with coffee, turn on CNBC for market news, and read about what’s going on in my industry. I may squeeze in a workout or run.

5)  How do you unplug? How often do you unplug?

Unplugging is hard, the tech industry is moving so fast, and I want to move with it! I need to know what’s going on all the time, but when I do unplug, it’ll be for a few hours to spend with family.

6)  What challenge / achievement are you most proud of?

As mundane as it may sound, graduating from college is my proudest moment. According to Pew Research only 15% of Latinos graduated from college in 2014. These stats are real. It was less during my time.

7)  What was the last business book you read? 

Ben Horowitz-‘The Hard Thing about Hard Things’.

8)  What is the best piece of advice you ever received?

Always focus on your own brand, it represents you and what value you bring to any organization

9)  What is your “keep me going” quote?

Mark Cuban: “Work like there’s someone working 24 hours a day to take it all away from you”.

10) What is your secret indulgence? 

Fashion, looking for a way to tie my two passions together (fashion and technology).

Check out Vanessa Alvarez’s full 40 Over 40 profile here!

Whitney Johnson

Whitney Johnson

Whitney is the author of the acclaimed Dare, Dream, Do: Remarkable Things Happen When You Dare to Dream. She has been named on numerous Smart Thinkers and People to Follow lists by major media such as Inc. Magazine, Business Insider and Huffington Post and is quoted in Wall Street Journal, CNN, Fast Company, Forbes and more.
Whitney Johnson