Riding the Rails to Success
BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY
JO-ANN OLSOVSKY
Technology Services Vice President & CIO
BS–Business Management, Nova
Southwestern University
MA–Project Management, George
Washington University
MBA, Nova Southeastern University
Jo-ann Olsovsky came to BNSF Rail-
way, one of four remaining transcon-
tinental railroads, in 2006, to lead its
telecommunications organization.
A Testament to Opportunity
“I love this industry,” says Olsovsky,
When Geophysics Is a Family Affair
a veteran of more than 21 years in
AT&T SERVICES, INC.
voice, data, signal, and fiber net-
CONOCOPHILLIPS INC.
ANGIOLINA WISKOCIL works. “You get to use your creativ- BAISHALI ROY
Senior Vice President, Consumer
ity to figure what’s next.”
Senior Geophysicist Houston, TX
Information Technology
Olsovsky has also seen a lot of prog- BS–Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of
BA–Psychology, University of California at
Davis
ress for women in IT.
Technology
MS–Exploration Geophysics, Indian
AT&T’s workforce is 39 percent
At age 19, she was hired as a techni-
Institute of Technology
PhD–Geophysics, University of Western
people of color and 44 percent fe-
cian at an AT&T subsidiary. “I was Ontario
male. Women hold 41 percent of the
the only woman in my workgroup of
Growing up in the world’s second-
telecom giant’s managerial positions
people in their 40s and 50s; they had
most populous country provided a
— above average for most Fortune
been with the company for 20 to 30
motivation to excel. “It helped me get
500 companies — while minorities
years,” she explains. “I heard every
to where I am today,” says Baishali
represent 28 percent of AT&T’s man-
crack and comment you can think of.”
Roy, a senior geophysicist at Cono-
agers, as compared to 12 percent
That was in the mid-1980s. Now, she
coPhillips — one of the world’s larg-
nationwide.
says, people “look forward to what I
est integrated energy companies.
Born in Ecuador, and a San Fran-
have to say and the direction I want
Roy, 38, leads a research program to
ciscan since age 6, Angie Wiskocil,
to take.” As CIO, Olsovsky, 43, says,
study extra heavy crude oil. With the
a senior vice president for AT&T
“I motivate and provide strategic di-
energy needs of the world growing,
Services says, “I am a real testament
rection, and I do a lot of mentoring.”
heavy oil has a high profile at Cono-
to opportunity at AT&T.”
Since 2002, the company has brought
coPhillips.
Wiskocil, 50, began her career with
on board more than 16,000 employ-
Recovery of heavy crude is a chal-
Pacific Bell (now AT&T) in 1973. “In
ees, nearly 6.5 percent are women.
lenge because it is viscous (like
the mid ‘70s, the company was male-
The wife and mother of four sons is
peanut butter) and does not flow like
dominated,“ she recalls. “And though
also an active water skier, softball
conventional crude. “I have been
I was the only liberal arts major (my
player, and a beginning golfer. “Work
working on improved imaging and
counterparts had technical training), I
is great, but it doesn’t love back, you
modeling of subsurface reservoirs to
was able to succeed.”
need to have balance.”
help extract extra heavy crude,” she
She moved up, becoming VP for
says.
consumer marketing, and then VP
Her interest in the earth has deep
network engineering-west for Pacific
roots. She remembers going on field
Bell. A year later, she coordinated
trips with her father, a professor of
SBC’s participation in an SBC/Yahoo!
geophysics. Roy’s husband, another
alliance.
geophysics professor, also works at
As SVP for consumer IT, she heads
ConocoPhillips. Still, there are rela-
technology operations and leads en-
tively few women at oil companies.
gineers in the design, development,
Roy is actively involved with mentor-
and delivery of IT platforms, including
ing young women graduate students,
Internet Protocol based Television
and working to enhance the compa-
Service. “That will hit the bottom line
ny’s recruiting and development pro-
soon. By 2009, AT&T will have 17 mil-
gram for early-career geoscientists
lion homes that are IPTV ready,” she
and exploration engineers.
explains. “It’s my most challenging
job to date.”
www.womenofcolor.net WOMENOFCOLOR | FALL 2008 15
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