Clara Shih
Clara Shih
Clara Shih, who will speak at the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) during Wednesday afternoon’s plenary session, is CEO and founder of Hearsay Social, a social media marketing management platform whose predictive analytics technology helps salespeople reach out to clients at the right time with the right message. At Hearsay, Clara’s core mission is to develop the company into a diverse work environment where everyone feels comfortable and welcome.
Growing up in Chicago, Clara learned to love math, science and technology from her dad, an electrical engineer. A Businessweek cover story on Silicon Valley inspired her to move west, and she graduated #1 in Computer Science at Stanford University, where she also received an MS in Computer Science – User Experience and Design. Clara went on to complete an MS in Internet Studies from Oxford University, where she studied as a U.S. Marshall Scholar. She has gone on to be named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs, Fast Company’s Most Influential People in Technology and Businessweek’s Top Young Entrepreneurs.
In 2004, Clara received an Anita Borg Scholarship to attend GHC. Now, she will once again return, this time as a woman who has overcome the many obstacles posed by the gender gap in tech. Clara will share pertinent advice for young women entering the tech and business world:
“Don’t underestimate yourself…It’s easy to feel intimidated when you are the only woman in the room and to want to shrink away, but remember: It’s an opportunity to show everyone who you are and what you’re capable of. Seize it!” she says.