Full name: Lucy L. Chalmeton
Position / Job title?: Associate Director, Mobile Innovation
1. Fast-forward several years/decades. How did you land (or create) your current position?
I’ve been a mobile and innovation evangelist since 2001 which is almost most of my career up. Working with Orange Innovation Program in both China and France in the early age of the Internet and smartphones not only helped me understand where digital innovation is heading to from a global perspective, but also ignited my curiosity about technology and mobile. Joining Publicis Groupe as Head of Mobile in China after that, was a natural move because of my expertise in mobile and enthusiasm in creative. Healthcare is probably one of the last sectors to be reinvented by technology. I’m extremely excited to be part of the healthcare revolution by leveraging mobile and other connected devices and technologies.
2. What is the biggest career mistake you’ve ever made?
Not taking enough risks when I was younger. I regret that I was not brave enough to take more risks in my 20’s, such as joining or launching a startup or being more entrepreneurial.
3. What is the single most important piece of advice you would give to other career-minded women?
Know what you want. Set a measurable goal and achieve it. Walking without knowing where you are going will never lead you to where you really want to go. Ask yourself, where do you see yourself in five years, what drives you, and then set a yearly short-term workplace goals, like learning new skills, to accomplish them.
4. Let’s talk about work/life balance. What does that mean to you? Is it important?
It’s absolutely important. Living in a fast-paced place like Manhattan is already stressful. Working in the mobile sphere adds another layer of stress because you are always on, due to smartphones, tablets, and other connected devices. So, being able to unplug once in a while is extremely crucial to staying sharp and helps you be more productive after. Personally, I love the calmness that yoga instills in me everyday, and I feel refreshed after coming back from a good hike in the mountains and woods during the weekend with my family and friends.
5. On that note, do you think women can have it all? Both the baller career, and the happy family?
Yes, absolutely. It’s challenging, but doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Across most countries in the world, women’s roles are traditionally tied to being a good wife and mother and culture dictates that women take on the majority of the responsibilities at home. Allocating time to work will naturally leave a woman spending less time on family and kids. That’s why I think having a partner who understands the demands on a woman’s time, one who is willing to split part of the chores and share responsibilities, is essential to a happier family on the long run.
6. Should you work for the money, or do what you love?
The ideal situation would be to make money from your hobbies! At the very least, you need to live-off of something you are interested in. Think about it, an 8-hour job eats up half of your waking hours a day, so why spend that much amount of time on something you don’t enjoy? Moreover, interest is the best motivation. If you are interested in it, you will be curious, proactive, learn and grow, and perform better overall. Eventually, that leads to a win-win for both you and your employer. So don’t sacrifice yourself just for money, because it won’t last long.
7. If you married a millionaire husband and didn’t have to work, would you? (Be honest.)
The answer is yes. This is the advice my mother gave me when I was a little girl, that no matter who you marry in the future, you should always be financially independent, because it will make you a better person and make your marriage happier. I still believe in it. I believe that being financially independent not only gives you independence, but also confidence and charm. By working you can keep learning new things, stay active and make new friends.
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