(upbeat music) >> Narrator: Live from Palo Alto. It's theCUBE, covering Women Transforming Technology 2017. Brought to you by VMware. >> Welcome back to theCUBE's coverage of the Woman Transforming Technology conference held at VMware here in beautiful Palo Alto, California. I'm your host, Rebecca Knight. I am joined by Nicola Acutt, she is the vice president of sustainability strategy here at VMware. Nicola, thanks so much for joining us. >> My pleasure, Rebecca, it's great to be with you. >> So I want to start out by talking to you about how VMware is thinking differently about sustainability and devising its strategy. >> Yeah, great. Well, you know, sustainability is something that's not really new at VMware. We've been doing sustainability for many many years, but what is new is we've rethought our strategy and we've rethought how we frame and think about it. And that starts with the business and what we actually do in the world. This is what's really exciting to me, you know. We've done a lot of very responsible things, from the design of the campus here in Palo Alto, which you've seen, our LEED certified buildings and the work that we do in philanthropy and community. And now what we're doing is pulling it all together under this concept of collective impact, and for us, that's about the sum of the parts, and really about ultimately how we leave a legacy and impact as a business, but starting with what we do. >> And I think that that's... What you're saying is so important in this sense of, for corporate social responsibility, that has to start with a business case of why you're doing this, but then there's also this legacy part to it too. So talk a little bit about what you're thinking there. >> Yeah, well, glad you asked, it's a large part of why we have, as we rethought sustainability, we put this role in our office of the CTO. And for that exact reason, because it's about, you know, what is the legacy we create? Not just in our industry, but for the world. So we talk about, you know, my role, in the office of the CTO, it's very much about helping to inspire engineering for impact, so that we, you know, our mission is about creating not just the most innovative software in the world, but for the world. So we think about the impact, the legacy impact VMware has had in the data center, which is one thing I can talk about, you know, the environmental impact of that. But then also looking forward at how we enable access to technology, the platforms really to change the world, whether it's providing solutions for farmers in rural parts of India of Africa or down the street. It's this view of how does VMware's technology help create a better place, a better world. >> Well, just the fact that you were in the office of the CTO is such a dramatic change from so many companies. I mean, when you think about the bad rap that sustainability gets, corporate green washing and things like that, but to put it at the core of VMware's business, that is a very dramatic difference. What was the impetus for that? >> That's a great question. You know, I think before we were talking about, I've been at VMware for several years, and been on a journey myself and what we do, and started working in the foundation. And I've moved into this role in the CTO office. And part of that was about how we came to this perspective of what is the impact that we want to create, and how do we want to go beyond sustainability to collective impact, and that was about this idea of net positive. How do we create a legacy where the sum of the parts are greater than the pieces. And I'll tell you a little story, you know, when I first joined VMware, I remember people describing the impact from an efficiency point of view in the data center, and I was always fascinated by that question. And finally last year we did a piece of work together with IDC to actually quantify that impact, and so for the first time, we were able to get the data and look at the legacy impact that we've had, and the numbers are astounding. When you look at what VMware and our customers have done over the last 13 years, it's the equivalent of avoiding 340 million metric tons of CO2 going into the atmosphere. That's a pretty astounding number, right? So what does that mean? It's the equivalent, we worked it out, it's the equivalent of powering 43 million homes, which is about 43% of US households for a year. >> Rebecca: A year? >> For a year. Isn't that incredible? >> Yes. >> And it was that, so that piece of work was really what helped shift this perspective and our collective realization that, yes, we can do all these great things, from social responsibility, environmental responsibility, in terms of how we run our business and how we treat our people in communities, but probably the most important and powerful impact that we can have is how we use our technology, and the impact that we have on the lives that we change as a result through our technology. >> You are in a panel here at the Women Transforming Technology conference that's all about design thinking. And it's about design thinking in terms of leadership, and your approach to management. But also, your approach to your job and devising, in your case, a sustainability strategy. Talk about design thinking and how it's changed the way you go about things. >> Right, I'm personally a big fan of design thinking, and it's one of those methodologies or experiences, where when you experience it, you really see the power of it. And when we were working in the foundation, the beginning of this work, we pulled in some design thinking experts to help us just frame a problem that we were trying to solve. And that experience really resonated with me, and it stuck with me, and these ideas of how you go from brainstorm big picture thinking to actually impact and outcome. >> So just break it down for our viewers, design thinking, elevator pitch, what is it? >> Sure. So it starts with sort of four key principles. It's about empathy, starting with empathy. Thinking about the problem that you're trying to solve. Thirdly, implementing, so rapid prototyping and then testing again, so lots of testing, before you come to the impact and the outcome. And it's this iterative process, kind of building something, testing it, going back and building it again. But I think the biggest takeaway for me and what I learned about it that I applied to leadership is this idea of empathy. And I think we often think of empathy as feeling sorry for, but it's not, it's really to me, empathy is radical questioning and radically asking yourself, challenging your assumptions and trying to see what others see, and I think it's that, that shift of mindset that's so powerful, and for me, applying that to my work shows up all the time, whether I'm in a meeting, whether I am running a team, whether we were doing the strategy for sustainability, it's constantly asking the questions, asking why. I think that for me is the thing that I really appreciate about design thinking and I try to bring it to everything that I do. >> From a product standpoint, the empathy is for the end user, for the customer, the person who is going to be using the product. But when it comes to creating a sustainability strategy, who are you empathizing with? >> Yeah, that's a... So, you know, again, that this word empathy, I think, is-- >> Rebecca: It trips people up! >> Yeah, because we think it means feeling sorry for, right? But no, it's about seeing the other. Because what we were doing is taking this much wider angle view on sustainability, in other words, it's not about the real estate organization or about turning off the lights in our operations, it's about the whole business. So for me, empathy is about trying to step into other people's shoes, and working with stakeholders across the business, so not just in our real estate operations, but in the business, in HR, in legal, across all of the functions. And asking questions and listening to stakeholders, and really trying to understand their point of view on the business so that I can connect what they care about to, ultimately, the sustainability strategy. >> Talk about design thinking in an approach to leadership. Particularly in light of why we're here, Women Transforming Technology. How does it work when you're on a team? >> Yeah. >> You know, I think it starts with that individual, it starts with empathy always, and the why, and really trying to understand others, the people that you're working with. When I say empathy, I think about trying to see others. And part of seeing others is knowing what their strengths are and knowing what they're uniquely placed to do. So in working with the team, I think that is a great leadership skill, is to really know and understand your team, to build a team that functions really well together. That skill, I think, is irreplaceable in leadership. >> And what about for the person who's being led? So the person who's not quite the manager yet, maybe earlier in her career. How can she use design thinking and empathize both with her colleagues and her customers, but also perhaps her manager too, in terms of not only moving the product forward, but also moving her career forward? >> Yeah, you know, the speaker in the panel we just listened to, Lynn Christensen, talked about the importance of understanding the needs of others and how powerful that can be when you're trying to get work done and have an influence. So she gave an example which I loved about, often where we're trying to prove ourselves, right, especially as young women in the workforce. And there is an important element of confidence and all of those good things that we're talking about here, but I think the other element of what she was getting at is understanding when you're giving a presentation or you're talking about a product or an idea, to think about who you're talking to. And to make sure that, when you think about your message and your presentation, to be designing your talk, to use design thinking, designing your talk with that person in mind, and that can be a really powerful way to have yourself seen as a potential or as a future leader. >> In terms of how you are thinking about VMware sustainability strategy and the way other companies are, what, and I don't want this to turn into a school where other companies should follow VMware's lead, but at the same time, what would your advice be to other companies that are seeing what you're doing and, for example, putting sustainability in the office of the CTO? What other differences in terms of how you approach sustainability could other companies mimic, for the good of all of us? >> For the good of all, absolutely. I think that's a really important question because, you know, I think there's a role for corporate social responsibility and philanthropy and sustainability, and I think every company is unique, depending on their market and their industry, but ultimately, when we think about trying to create a positive impact on the world, and frankly, to address some of the world's most pressing challenges, it really does require the combination of what I talk about, this collective impact, and the skills and competencies a business can bring to that really are in what they offer to the world, and often that isn't necessarily just philanthropy, it could be a combination of those things. My perspective on this is really thinking about where your unique competencies as a company and a business overlap with the world's great needs? And finding that sweet spot is where I believe companies can have the biggest impact. >> One of the other elements of sustainability strategy is making sure that companies are committed to diversity and inclusion, and is there a way that you're working on that here at VMware as part of the sustainability strategy, or is that more of an HR function? I mean, how does it all work together? >> Yeah, you know, the work that we're doing at VMware on diversity and inclusion is very much part of this ethos of collective impact, because it's really pulling and connecting these elements of the work that we're doing inside the company, in different departments, into this legacy of what I call net positive, the net positive impact. So diversity and inclusion is part of that in a really important way, and this is what this conference today is really all about, bringing a community of women together who are passionate and committed to making an impact in technology, and leaving that positive legacy. And so for me personally, today's really quite poignant, actually. I'm a mom, and I'm also the daughter of a farmer, and I'm going to get choked up. (laughter) And a school teacher. >> And you're going to meet Gloria Steinem later today, Nicola. I don't know if I can pile on, but-- >> Well, this is what's so poignant for me, is I grew up in the shadow of apartheid, and I think, and a very patriarchal society by my mom, was very influenced by Gloria Steinem. And her fierceness about education for girls was really ultimately, I think, had an impact on me not only finishing high school, but going on to get a four year degree and a PhD, and ultimately, you know, South African woman finding herself in Silicon Valley today. >> Right. >> Is a testament to Gloria and to my mom, and all the women who have forged this path for us. And so today is an opportunity, I think, in some ways to say thank you, me personally to say thank you to Gloria and those women who have forged the path, but I think today's also important in the recognition that there is this community that is growing, a community of women who are having an impact in technology. But I think the other element is that we realize that our work is not done. And that's what today is all about, is this community of women who are carrying the torch because our work isn't done. >> So yes, I mean, there is that balance. There's this gratitude, on one hand, of our forebears and what they've sacrificed for us to be where we are. But then at the other hand, particularly as you said, you grew up in the shadow of apartheid, and now you have Donald Trump as president, and we're hearing a lot of... (laughs) Of scary notions coming from the White House right now. So there is also this other side to it, which is feeling anger and a real mobilization to rise up. >> Yeah, Kara was really eloquent about that this morning, and I think it's complex, right? This is multiple facets and multiple forces at play. But at the end of the day, I think it is really really important to be clear about our values, and to be clear about the impact that we want to leave in the world, and finding a community of people around which to focus our energies. >> Perfect words to end on. Nicola Acutt, thank you so much for joining us. >> My pleasure! >> I'm your host, Rebecca Knight, we'll return with theCUBE's coverage of Women Transforming Technology here at VMware. (upbeat music) (ominous music)