Janet Napolitano Event Summary

On January 28th, 2016, Financial Women of San Francisco had the pleasure of hosting University of California President Janet Napolitano at a sold out event in which Napolitano shared her thoughts about the University of California and gave valuable insights into how she has achieved the many milestones in her remarkable career. The discussion was expertly moderated by Janet Reilly, host of “The Mix” on NBC.

Napolitano initially discussed the challenges of maintaining the UC system at the high standards for which the UC is well known.  Napolitano also explained current budgetary strategy and touched on recent budget negotiations with Governor Jerry Brown.

Reilly’s excellent questions prompted Napolitano to share personal advice regarding the trajectory of her career. Napolitano has made significant transitions starting with her role as attorney general of Arizona, to governor of Arizona, to secretary of homeland security, and eventually to her current role as president of the UC 10 campus system. Her role at the UC arose at the right time professionally and presented an opportunity to relocate to the west coast and focus on higher education, which resonated with her time as Governor of Arizona and her own father’s background in higher education as Dean of the University of Arizona School of Medicine.

And finally, Napolitano shared several key factors that have helped her along the way including the guidance of strong mentors and the support of a solid and trusted team. She also emphasized the importance of hard work, mastery of the details and confidence. She also highlighted her strong belief in balance and told the audience what books are currently on her nightstand for reading enjoyment.