Getting an education and not being afraid to pursue your dreams are the two biggest pieces of advice that Lisa Gibson offers to aspiring young women in the technology industry. Gibson can definitely lead by example, as this is exactly as she has done throughout her accomplished career in Hawaii’s high-tech world.

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Gibson attended the University of Colorado, followed by a brief stint in San Francisco before finally landing in Hawaii with her husband, Michael and starting a family.

That was 35 years ago. Today, as the President and Founder of the Hawaii Science & Technology Council, she is responsible for executing the strategic initiatives and goals articulated by the organization’s board of directors.

And this is not always an easy task, says Gibson, who believes that her involvement in technology is a direct result of the need to diversify Hawaii’s economy into knowledge-based industries. If the success of local high-tech firms in recent years, Gibson’s hopes for the future diversification of Hawaii’s economy will continue to be realized for generations to come.

Pacific News Bytes invited Gibson to share her experience of being a woman in Hawaii’s technology industry…

How did you get your start in the technology field?

I became involved in economic development, specifically in the transition of the Oahu Economic Development Board into Enterprise Honolulu. I moved from Enterprise Honolulu in January, 2005 to create the Hawaii Science & Technology Council. Tech needed to have an industry association as a critical piece of Hawaii’s new civic infrastructure.

How long have you been with HSTC? How did you come into your current position?

The Hawaii Science & Technology Council and its sister organization the Hawaii Science & Technology Institute were founded in 2005. I and the early board members founded both organizations.

In your primary responsibilities at work, how do you use technology to improve or advance your organization?

HISciTech has a very powerful database which drives the organization’s website as well as our Industry Directory, essentially the phone book of goods and services for Hawaii’s companies across 9 sectors. However, what is more relevant is the vast and impressive range of technologies employed by Hawaii’s science and tech companies.

What have been some of the greatest challenges you have faced in your profession? And from these challenges what knowledge or wisdom did you learn and take with you?

Economic development is a complex topic as is technology. Combing the two has been a steep learning curve. Also, because Hawaii has a broad range of science and tech sectors and not a single deep, dominate sector, it means that a range of industry CEO’s has had to come together to create a unified voice for industry. This kind of unified leadership is particularly important on issues such as creating a healthy science climate, workforce development and capital formation. All of this takes patience.

What is unique about your work environment?

The range of interesting people with whom I am fortunate to work.

In your profession and in life, what do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment thus far?