Cynthia Marshall
SVP, Human Resources, AT&T Services, Inc.
MY GREATEST STRENGTH
My interpersonal skills are my greatest strength. I am smart and nice! People, internally and externally, respond to “nice.” When they like you, they want to do business with you.
MY INSPIRATION
My mother inspires me. She taught me that with God all things are possible. She put a math book in one of my hands and a Bible in the other, and made me believe I could do anything.
HOW I INSPIRE OTHERS
With a smile, constant encouragement, and positive facts.
OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE
Too many of our children are not graduating from high school. Too many are ending up in foster care. And so many of our children are in crisis. The village needs to save them.
GIVING BACK
Time, talent, and treasure. It’s important to give back and “go” back. Adoption, education, and domestic violence causes get quite a bit of my personal attention. And because diversity and inclusion are very important to my company, I get to help communities of color through AT&T initiatives related to hiring, philanthropy, procurement, and mentoring.
LESSONS LEARNED
People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
MAINTAINING A HEALTHY BALANCE
Assessing “crystal” balls and “rubber” balls. Crystal balls cannot be dropped—they won’t bounce back. Rubber balls are things that can be missed a few times, because they bounce back. I set my priorities and schedule by what’s crystal and what’s rubber.
PERSONAL WISDOM
Life is fragile and temporary. My cancer battle gave me an even deeper appreciation for the importance of living out my purpose on earth. I’ve learned that I really do have a purpose and I have been adequately equipped to carry it out. God has given me a story and He wants me to tell it. I don’t just work for AT&T; I am AT&T—Anointed To Testify.
CAREER ADVICE
- Understand the company’s vision, values, and mission.
- Add value every day.
- Don’t let anyone fundamentally change who you are. Stay grounded and humble.
- Deliver the goods—results count.
- Always remember where you came from.
- Know “why”—it’s more important than knowing “how”
- Do the right thing—integrity is not for sale.
- Respond gracefully when bad stuff happens.
- Take care of people. At the end of the day, people matter!
- Find your passion and your purpose and get busy!
