Shelly Swanback, Senior Managing Director, Technology, Accenture

Shelly Swanback serves as the lead for Accenture’s North America Technology practice. Sales support, solution design and delivery of Accenture’s offerings across the systems integration and application outsourcing service groups – all of them fall under her umbrella.

To say her role is demanding would be an understatement. So, how has this wife and mother of two managed to “lean in” without losing grip on her family?

“In 2001, I had just given birth to my first child and had been recently promoted to ‘partner’ at Accenture,” she tells PINK. As she returned to work, her focus was growing local business in Denver.

“At the time, there weren’t many prospects. I scanned the area for possible leads and settled on a well-known company that had been on the verge of bankruptcy for 10 years – and was three stoplights away from my home. My gut told me I could make something happen with this company,” she says, “so I approached my management team with the idea.”

Immediate reactions were not encouraging given the company’s prior and challenging relationship the prospect. And, a handful of previous Accenture employees working at the company, through word of mouth, suggested the culture wasn’t very welcoming of consultants.

“I recognized the concerns, but I knew this was my opportunity to build a book of business in my hometown,” says Swanback. “If I didn’t take the risk, it meant significant travel and time away from my husband and son.”

Motivated to make it happen, she took action immediately. After nearly three months of persistence, they cut their first deal and the company is still an important client for Accenture more than 11 years later.

For Swanback, “having it all” means using personal priorities to bring perspective, energy and creativity to both my career and my family.

Swanback holds a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and computer information systems from Colorado State University.