As CTO for Comcast’s newly created Advance Advertising group, Yu is tasked with positioning the company for leadership as the ad market adapts to new technology and business models. She previously served as co-founder and CTO of FreeWheel, which was acquired by Comcast in 2014. When it comes to managing stress, she says she tries to remember that she’s in the business of advertising—not saving people. “This won’t work for doctors. I know,” she deadpans. “I also try to first focus myself on finding solutions for the current situation, not focus on how we got there.”
What is one way the industry can continue to evolve in ridding itself of gender discrimination?
What gets measured, gets done. It is the same here. Take action, measure where we are today, continue to ask ourselves how we can improve and get to a better balance. Discuss, publicize issues more broadly, increase awareness, therefore, enable women to be more comfortable speaking for themselves and other women around them. Men and women, especially women, leaders should take it upon themselves to use their influence, setting path for the society to evolve faster toward reaching the right gender balance at workplace.
What famous woman, living or deceased, would you like to have dinner with?
Grace Hopper
Best advice for relieving stress?
I try to remind myself that I am in the business of advertising, not in the business of saving people. – This won’t work for doctors. I know. I also try to first focus myself on finding solutions for the current situation, not focus on how we got there. By treating everything as a challenge that I need to identify solution for, I can think more objectively under stress. Therefore, be less stressful in a stressful situation.