Longtime GCI exec Pidgeon knows her way around both Alaska and Washington, DC. She’s the strategic leader for legal, regulatory, compliance and policy initiatives across the state’s largest provider of TV, internet and mobile services—and a provider in many markets in the lower 48 as well. As well as being GCI’s top advocate, she and her team are helping the company push forward in strategy and negotiations on business ventures. She also oversees GCI’s compliance program, in accordance with the company’s commitment to honest, ethical, and lawful conduct. “We have to re-examine the process for defining leadership positions,” she says. “Tech has historically been a male-dominated industry but one cookie-cutter set of experiences and qualities should not define leadership across the sector.”
What specifically does your company do to support and elevate the women who work there?
GCI launched the GCI Women’s Network (GWeN) in 2017 as a forum for peer-to-peer networking and training for interested employees. With national recognition that advancement for women is stalling at the management level, GCI has become even more committed to ensuring that leadership opportunities are open to all employees as we work together to fulfill our company mission. GWeN provides leadership tools, development opportunities, resources and support to that employees can build their career path, meet their goals, and move GCI forward.
How can the industry do a better job of recruiting women and ensuring they have a path to senior positions?
We have to re-examine the process for defining leadership positions. Tech has historically been a male-dominated industry but one cookie-cutter set of experiences and qualities should not define leadership across the sector.
What advice would you give your 13-year-old self?
I have two daughters and I tell them ‘love what you do’ and ‘surround yourself with people who let your be yourself.’
