It can feel like such a mystery: how do some people get to the "top floors" at a company, while others stay in the lobby?  Well, we pull up one big curtain (and elevator) on that mystery this week. Erin talks with Renee Zaugg, CIO of Otis Elevator Company. It's clear from her rise that one "secret" is that people who get the big jobs lead...when they're not asked to lead.  The b Cause podcast kicks off Women's History Month sitting down with women's equality luminary and CIO of Otis Elevator Company, Renee Zaugg.  Renee is the Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Otis Elevator Company. In addition, she serves as the Executive Sponsor for the Women in Technology employee resource group as well as the Digital Technology (DT) Energy Board employee engagement group. Prior to joining Oris, Renee served as Senior Vice President, Enterprise Infrastructure and Cloud Services at CVS Health, a Fortune 5 company.  Erin kicks off their discussion by asking Renee if she always had aspirations to be a corporate executive in Technology. Renee recalls the time-capsule letter she wrote herself in school; her aspirations were simply to travel the world. But she also knew she wanted to be a leader, and as she grew in capability and confidence, the idea of becoming an executive grew with it. Erin then asks if there's something Renee achieved that, at the time, seemed like an impossible feat. Renee talks about when she was first promoted to a vice president role. She says that being given control of a large organization, just before an acquisition, was something she never expected. She stepped into the role a bit unsure of herself, but then she thought "Of course I can do this, because who else could do it?" They talk about Renee's passion to ensure we obtain equality for women in leadership roles. When she was at Aetna, she founded their Woman's Leadership Alliance (WLA). Renee recalls being taken aback by the significant inequalities between women and men in the top positions at the company. After launching WLA, within four years they had managed to change the number of women in leadership positions from 23% to 36%. Erin then wonders what Renee's biggest fear was in her career. Renee talks about her speech impediment, which she's struggled with her entire life and that left her with a major fear of public speaking. She talks about how she (mostly) overcame that fear and how important it is to force yourself to face your fear...to act upon it so you can overcome it.  They then step into the topic of being a working mom. Erin asks Renee how she balances being a mom with her career. Renee found that setting aside time for her family was critical (and occasionally putting herself first, even though they may sound selfish). was essential to being able to have a balanced life.  Renee then tells a story about the day she received a call from the lunch-lady at her daughter's school. She asked, "Did you mean to send her with one pound of ham?" She goes on to say "It's not just me, there's a whole market now on moms who are messes." Erin then asks Renee if she can recall a time when she went against the grain and did things her way, instead of the executive way. Renee tells a story about when she went against other executives to stand up for the plan and idea she had for progression. Renee also talks about the importance of bragging, something that has never come naturally to her, but something that can be an essential device for gaining recognition for yourself, your colleagues, and your company.  Erin asks Renee if there has ever been something she would not compromise on no matter what. Renee remembers something her mom told her when she was 18: never let anyone question her integrity.  Erin then wants to know what breaks Renee's heart. The answer is simple: seeing sick children. That's why Renee has always tied herself to support certain charities.  Finally, Erin wants answers to something she's been wondering for a long time. And now that she's in the presence of the CIO of Otis Elevator Company, it's the perfect time to get answers. She ponders and asks, "Why don't elevators have an undo button?" Renee just might be the person to finally solve the problem. LinkedIn: Renee Zaugg Get your own copy by searching "You Do You Ish" in amazon or going to   Follow Nicole on LinkedIn:   Follow Erin on LinkedIn:   If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Here are some options... Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @   b Cause Podcast Facebook group @   We even share more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible). Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to   We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @   Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @   We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.  Tweetable Comments: "I'm just an opportunity seeker." "Of course I can do it, because who else could?" "She said, 'I gave up having a family for my career.' So I looked right at her and said 'You're telling me I have to choose? Funny, our CEO has children, and he didn't have to choose." "When you get to the top, remember to send the elevator back down." "Pushing yourself to do it is what allows you to overcome it." "Everybody's life is a mess to some degree." "It's not just me, there's a whole market now on moms who are messes." "There are sacrifices when you're a parent. Their world is their world and you've just got to fit in where it makes sense." "The best and quickest way to get a seat at the table is to create it yourself." "You might not be the smartest person in the room, but you don't let anyone question your integrity. You can't get that back." "You just made elevators so sexy and cool."