What should you do when your career hits a plateau, and sheer
hard work stops translating into upward mobility? In this episode
of Women in Tech Wisdom, host David sits down with
Singapore-based tech executive and entrepreneur Cornelia Schuler.
Cornelia reflects on her 25-year corporate career in technical
sales and enterprise leadership across Europe, the US, and Asia,
explaining how she transitioned from corporate vice president to
tech advisory founder and author.
Drawing from her book The Waiting Game, she shares findings from
65 interviews with senior executives and HR leaders on the root
causes of workplace stagnation, the critical distinction between
mentors and sponsors, and the tactical steps women can take to
ensure their commercial achievements lead to real influence.
Cornelia is married and has a daughter. Her interest in
psychology, travel and different cultures shapes her work with
leaders around the world.
Guest: Cornelia Schuler
Current Role: Founding & Managing Director
at GroWise, Author, Keynote Speaker & Executive Advisor
(Former Vice President at Gartner; earlier roles at Oracle, IBM,
and Siemens)
Key Takeaways
Technical Sales as a High-Impact Path: Tech
sales combines deep technology solutions with transparent,
measurable business impact—offering an exceptional springboard
into executive management.
The Sponsor Advantage: Mentors provide
perspective, but sponsors spend political capital to mention
your name in high-stakes promotion meetings.
Actionable Networking: Replace open-ended
coffee chats with targeted, objective-focused conversations
(e.g., dedicated 4- to 5-session mentoring engagements or
strategic networking lunches).
Closing the Gender Action Gap: Women must
vocalize their career ambitions years before they plan to move,
preventing assumptions that they are content remaining
stationary.
Reverse Mentoring: Senior leaders can sharpen
their perspectives and challenge organizational assumptions by
intentionally seeking out reverse-mentorship relationships with
Gen Z colleagues.
Infrastructure & Global Careers: Living
and working in international hubs like Singapore highlights how
proactive family-support infrastructure empowers dual-career
households and executive mothers.
Memorable Quotes
"A sponsor is the person who mentions your name in the rooms you
are not in."
"Do good work and talk about it. If you don't say you want to
move or take the lead, leadership may assume you are completely
satisfied staying where you are."
"Mentors share their experience with you to solve problems;
sponsors put their own reputation on the line to place you in new
opportunities."
"Career is a 40-year marathon, not a sprint. If you need to step
back, pivot, or take time out, you still have decades ahead to
build your legacy."
Resources & Links Mentioned
Book: The Waiting Game by Cornelia Schuler
in German https://link.amazon/B00X6bKKv
coming soon in English, too
Company: GroWise Pte. Ltd. – B2B Sales
Advisory & Commercial Enablement (Singapore)
Leadership Influence: Carla Harris – Vice
Chairman at Morgan Stanley, Keynote Speaker & Author on
Corporate Sponsorship
Professional Networks: German Chamber of
Commerce in Singapore (Women in Business Committee), Women in
Data Centers, Global Women in Tech Initiatives
Ted Talk How to find the person who can help you get
ahead at work | Carla Harris:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpE_W50OTUc
Cornelia on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cornelia-schuler
David on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-kaselow/
____________________________________________________
Willkommen zum neuen Podcast „Women in Tech Wisdom“ von David
Kaselow.
Es erwarten erwarten euch Realtalk und Inspiration mit spannenden
Frauen aus der IT- und Tech-Branche!
Mit tollen Stories über ihren Werdegang, Vorbilder und alles, was
sie Mädchen und jungen Frauen mitgeben wollen. Damit sich noch
mehr Mädchen und Frauen für MINT-Berufe entscheiden. Hört rein
und abonniert den Kanal!
Der Host: David Kaselow ist der "IT-Dolmetscher", der
hauptberuflich als IT-Berater für seine Kunden zwischen Business
und IT "übersetzt" und auf Social Media und in seinem Buch "IT
für Anfänger" wirklich Informatik-Themen sehr anschaulich und
einfach für jedermann und jede Frau erklärt!
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