FOUNDATIONS FOR DRIVING VALUE
BUILDING THE NEXT GROUP OF WOMEN LEADERS
As a respected leader in her field with over 25 years of industry experience, Brooks McCorcle has laid the foundation for innovative solutions that help drive value to AT&T.
As President of AT&T Partner Solutions, McCorcle leads the majority of the Fortune 10 company’s indirect distribution channels. She runs a business unit with $6 billion in annualized revenues. She’s responsible for extending the reach of AT&T’s products and services through the more than 2,500 service and solution providers around the world that are supported by her organization.
McCorcle and her team are constantly exploring new ways to help their customers – service and solution providers – find success today and in the future. They’re committed to making the forward-thinking, bold moves needed to deliver the innovation and agility customers crave – asking what it would take, not if it is possible.
In the words of Brooks McCorcle:
How can the world increase diversity in STEM fields?
“Diversity in the workplace matters, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes good business sense. Mix of backgrounds, variance in thoughts and approaches to problem-solving makes us stronger, more resilient to marketplace changes and shifts in demand.”
What barriers are in the way to closing the gender gap in STEM?
“The one thing I see as a barrier for many women is that we feel like we need to be perfect. We have to have all the right skill sets going into something, and we’re afraid to raise our hand unless we feel like we have all of that.”
How is the world changing with respect to STEM?
“STEM education is changing the way we think about the world around us. In a world that’s becoming increasingly complex, it’s more important than ever for young people to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to solve tough problems, gather and evaluate evidence and make sense of information.”
What can be done to move women forward in STEM?
“First, always be yourself. Embrace your unique strengths, background and point of view. Forcing yourself to be someone you’re not is unsustainable. Take your strengths and drive toward value creation – results matter and don’t be afraid to point them out! Second, have the courage to say ‘yes’ to big challenges. Surround yourself with talented allies – male and female, and use their strengths to complement your own.”
Where do you see women in STEM in five years?
“Diversity is so ingrained in everyday business that we don’t think of it as an initiative. But, we can’t keep it out of our sights. I expect that we will continue seeing a shift in our mindset from diversity to inclusion, where diversity is embedded automatically and the focus turns more toward inclusion.”
