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Zuckerberg blazing her own trails [The Bakersfield Californian :: ](Bakersfield Californian, The (CA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) April 16--Though she recently crossed off the top item on her bucket list -- at age 32 -- Randi Zuckerberg isn't the type to coast. As founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media, editor in chief of a technology and lifestyle website and author of two books, the wife and mother is always on the lookout for new worlds to conquer. Like Broadway. Fresh off a co-starring run in the musical "Rock of Ages," Zuckerberg said the experience not only fulfilled a lifelong dream but taught her something about ingenuity. "(It's) shown me that there are a lot of paths to achieving your goals, not just what everyone else is doing to get there." Zuckerberg will talk goals, avenues to success, the balance between work and family and more as keynote speaker for the upcoming Bakersfield Women's Business Conference. If the last name sounds familiar, it should: Zuckerberg worked at Facebook for six years with her brother Mark, who founded the social media juggernaut. As the marketing director, Randi Zuckerberg was responsible for, among other things, Facebook's 2008 and 2010 elections coverage, the latter of which earned her an Emmy nomination. Despite Facebook being a "wonderful job," the 100-hour work weeks -- common for any startup, Zuckerberg said -- were grueling, a factor in her decision to leave the company in 2011. "I felt, gosh, this is such an excellent company to work with, but I have a lot of aspirations of my own," she said in a recent phone interview. "I firmly believe in going out on a high note, so that felt like the right time for me to spread my wings." Kathryn Mears, conference chairwoman, said Zuckerberg's tech expertise and entrepreneurship make her an excellent choice as speaker, particularly this year, which marks the 25th anniversary of the conference. "We wanted somebody to represent the idea of the next 25 years," Mears said. "What does that look like? What Randi is exhibiting is a trailblazing spirit; she's not afraid to try something new or of taking some risks." Zuckerberg said she is excited to visit Bakersfield for the first time. Although she doesn't have a stock speech at the ready, she said, she plans to talk about the latest tech trends, finding balance in busy lives, personal stories from her own career and the lessons she's learned. "I kind of like to call myself, instead of being 'well-balanced,' (I'm) 'well-lopsided,'" she said. "I feel like on any given day, I'm either all in on my work or all in on being a mom." One of the most valuable lessons she's learned in business is the importance of building a brand. Someone with a strong personal brand, she said, will often have a leg up when it comes to choosing a firm or a new hire. "Women -- we're excellent workers and do a great job, but we get a little shy when it comes to promoting ourselves," Zuckerberg said. "I do think that many women could stand to promote themselves and their work a little more loudly." Another helpful tool for women in business is a strong peer group, Zuckerberg said. Conferences like the one in Bakersfield can help a woman build a network of support and references, she said, which can be key in getting jobs and sustaining business relationships. Zuckerberg has seen for herself the advances women are making in Silicon Valley, where her adventures with Facebook began. In 2005, she said you could "count on one hand" the number of successful female entrepreneurs and start-ups, with hardly any female investors or partners at investment firms. Now, she said, there are entire firms dedicated to funding women and their start-ups. "I'm really inspired by the change I've seen over the past decade or so in Silicon Valley," Zuckerberg said. "That being said, there is a lot more that has to happen, but I feel encouraged by what I've seen." ___ (c)2014 The Bakersfield Californian (Bakersfield, Calif.) Visit The Bakersfield Californian (Bakersfield, Calif.) at www.bakersfield.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |