IBM’s Rometty Almost Turned Down Promotion in Career Life Lesson
- CEO offers advice to young, career-focused women in technology
- ‘I learned growth and comfort never coexist,” Rometty says
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Ginni Rometty almost turned down a promotion 25 years ago, a move that became a defining lesson early in a career that led her to become chief executive officer at IBM in 2012.
Speaking Wednesday at the Grace Hopper Conference celebrating women in computing, Rometty told the story as part of three pieces of advice she wished to impart upon the attendees, the majority of whom were female. At the time, Rometty’s manager told her he wanted to recommend her to replace him. Her first reaction was that she wasn’t experienced enough and didn’t feel ready for the role, she said. But in the end, Rometty did take on the promotion and said she learned a valuable lesson.