How She Does It

Tuesday, August 29th, 2006

Sophie Vandebroek, Xerox’s chief technology officer, explains How She Does It:

Ten years ago, Vandebroek’s husband, Bart, died suddenly, leaving her alone with three small children and no other relatives in the United States. Vandebroek responded not just by sticking to her career but by taking on a series of increasingly challenging, high-profile jobs. In January, she became Xerox’s chief technology officer, responsible for harnessing the creations of five global laboratories to drive growth at the $15.7 billion document company.

Her colleagues have watched this ascent with some awe: I don’t know how she does it, they whispered. And for years, Vandebroek, 44, fed the mystery, reluctant to discuss her husband’s death. But lately, she has begun talking openly about how her family’s tragedy helped her understand what’s really important. She’s passionate about the strategies she has used to balance home and work as a single parent, including strict rules for travel, refusing relocations, even capping the number of friends she keeps up with. Her mantra: “Delegate, simplify, and leverage IT.”

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