Women in Business: Marissa Mayer
Marissa Mayer has been within the tech recreation since 1999, when she was employed because the 20th of Google’s first 25 staff. Her experiences within the enterprise world and the historically male-dominated tech business are outstanding. Haven’t heard of her? You’re greater than doubtless conversant in merchandise she’s pioneered.
Mayer’s held an array of management titles whereas working for the Google again once they have been only a funny-named web startup. From being the Director of Client Internet Merchandise to being the Vice President of Google Product Search, Mayer’s been concerned with a plethora of Google merchandise. Along with taking part in an element within the design and structure of Google’s desktop search capabilities, Google Maps, and Gmail, she additionally labored on a lot of Google’s cell purposes.
Marissa Mayer’s identify was introduced into the highlight when she was appointed Yahoo’s CEO and President in July 2012. Google’s predecessor was as soon as mighty competitors, however it was in want of a serious upheaval. Mayer sought to replace Yahoo and its providers whereas buying new merchandise within the course of. In an more and more cell world, Yahoo was hindered by a presence confined to the pc. Its choice of purposes have been poorly marketed and developed, and there wasn’t even an app for Yahoo Mail, its hottest service. She’s led to a turnaround; Yahoo’s cell apps have received Apple Design Awards two years in a row, and about 575 million customers have downloaded Yahoo apps.
Apart from updating Yahoo’s cell website and apps, Mayer additionally sought to revitalize Yahoo’s repute as a well-rounded media hub. Yahoo purchased Tumblr, microblogging platform with 460 million customers and counting, for $1.1 billion in Could 2013. Picture internet hosting website Flickr bought a makeover, and so did the purple hued homepage. Mayer employed Katie Couric to be the face of Yahoo Information and enlisted New York Occasions expertise author David Pogue to write down for Yahoo’s tech part. She additionally employed the mixing of pure, native adverts that mix into the homepage’s design. Whereas the CEO has confronted criticism for her daring spending in her acquisitions, Mayer is agency in her philosophy: “shoppers bear in mind your common over time”. Releasing a gentle stream of merchandise could end in a flop or two, however taking dangers will repay.
Mayer’s involvement doesn’t cease at Google and Yahoo. Not solely is she an avid investor of up and coming tech corporations, she additionally sits on the board of administrators for a wide range of teams, together with Walmart, New York Metropolis Ballet, and Jawbone. Her private internet value sits at $300 million.