Mahvash Yazdi

Steal This Idea: And the Winner Is ...

By MELISSA SOLOMON
APRIL 28, 2003
Content Type: Story
Source: Computerworld

Kathy Fong knows numbers. As a certified public accountant, it's her job. But technology? She's no rookie, but no expert, either. So when she received Southern California Edison's (SCE) first-ever CIO Excellence in IT Award, she was simultaneously flattered and taken aback.
It was no mistake. Fong was one of 10 employees - including three from outside IT -- to receive the new annual award in March from Mahvash Yazdi, CIO at the Rosemead, Calif.-based energy utility. "What's unique about our program is we decided to take it to a new level and recognize and award our internal clients," says Yazdi.

Honoring business unit employees with IT awards may seem counterintuitive, but Yazdi says it helps promote the value of IT/business partnerships companywide.

Such awards aren't something that Sue Goldberg has seen. But the president of Northeast Training Group Inc., an IT training consulting company in Chestnut Hill, Mass., says they're a great way to promote collaboration by shining a light on those who live it.

"It's almost like an Academy Award," Fong says. "It's probably the closest I'll ever get to that." more...

Anoosheh Ansari

An Inspiration to Women 

Anousheh Ansari once dreamed of being an astronaut while growing up in her native Tehran, Iran. Today the 34-year-old Anoosheh is the Vice President and General Manager of the IntelligentIP division of Sonus Networks, formed in January 2001 through Sonus' acquisition of "Telecom Technologies Inc.", the company that Anoosheh founded and turned into a force in the telecommunication industry. Immediately prior to founding Telecom Technologies, Anoosheh provided consulting services to the major telecommunications service providers and vendors in the areas of frame relay and ATM switch testing and evaluation. more...

Maryam Rofougaran

Maryam and Reza Rofougaran, two talented siblings from the city of Isfahan of Iran, were born in years 1968 and 1964 respectively, where they continued their education through middle and high school, and received several awards for their excellence in different fields. They then immigrated to the United States to pursue their dream of becoming a successful scientist and a difference maker in the world of physics and engineering. more...

Sholeh Hamedani
Two Dog Net Inc.

As President and Founder of Two Dog Net Inc., Sholeh Hamedani is responsible for the day-to-day corporate operations, overseeing marketing, content, and media development. Two Dog Net offers children limited and protected access to the Internet. more...