57 min

Jane Boulware Shares How She Went From Iowa’s Cornfields to Retiring Early From Microsoft Meant For It

    • Careers

Grit, resilience, strong values and a work ethic instilled in her from a young age propelled Jane from her dirt poor Iowa upbringing to an executive role at Microsoft where she was one of the top 10 women at Microsoft at 40.  By 52, Jane had launched three billion-dollar businesses. We discuss Jane’s new book, "Worthy: From Cornfields to Corner Office of Microsoft,"  and the story that led her to a life she never could have imagined.
When a door opened, Jane leapt through it and went all in. When she felt like a fraud, and was flooded with fear and insecurity, she kept going. When she felt like she didn't belong among the upper middle ivy leaguers, she kept going. Jane wants you to know that your background does not define your future. If you find it hard to relate to people who have all the answers, and don’t have major issues they are struggling with, this is the book for you. Jane doesn;t shy away from the uncomforable memories, including her recovery from the bulimia that nearly destroyed her. 
From the Jane's Gottman Institute bio:
"Unwilling to let circumstances, fear or others define her, Jane was penniless and married at 20, earned an MBA at 24, saw the ocean at 25, commuted to South America each week at 31, brought two sons into the world by 35, was a millionaire at 37, and one of the top 10 women at Microsoft at 40.  By 52, Jane had launched three billion-dollar businesses, been VP of the largest merger in the history of the US, forged global alliances, won lots of awards and left a legacy of strong leaders in her wake.
Along the way to the corner office, Jane was hit on, spit on, shot at, yelled at, a zero and a hero. She’s been called a bulldog, a bitch, an idiot and brilliant, all in the same week.
Married to her high school sweetheart, Jane lives in Washington state and works to make a difference, serving on boards including Boys & Girls Clubs, writing, speaking, and consulting. 
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Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and reach out via email at contact@meantforit.com with your thoughts or suggestions for future episodes. Visit www.meantforit.com for more inspiring stories, and if you leave us a review on iTunes, we'll celebrate with a happy dance!
Favorite Quotes from the Podcast:
"I never look at a no as a no. I always think of it as a not yet."
"I'm no longer afraid to be afraid. And that being afraid means that I am stretching, I am growing, I am trying to do something I've never done before."
"Nobody has the full meal deal. Know what you're good at, embrace that and own it."
"In sharing your secrets and having the courage to share your secrets, that's when you heal."
"Everybody has a secret. And it's the secrets that kill."
"I worked my heine off and I took jobs that required me to travel overseas when my child was one and a half years old and commute."
 

Grit, resilience, strong values and a work ethic instilled in her from a young age propelled Jane from her dirt poor Iowa upbringing to an executive role at Microsoft where she was one of the top 10 women at Microsoft at 40.  By 52, Jane had launched three billion-dollar businesses. We discuss Jane’s new book, "Worthy: From Cornfields to Corner Office of Microsoft,"  and the story that led her to a life she never could have imagined.
When a door opened, Jane leapt through it and went all in. When she felt like a fraud, and was flooded with fear and insecurity, she kept going. When she felt like she didn't belong among the upper middle ivy leaguers, she kept going. Jane wants you to know that your background does not define your future. If you find it hard to relate to people who have all the answers, and don’t have major issues they are struggling with, this is the book for you. Jane doesn;t shy away from the uncomforable memories, including her recovery from the bulimia that nearly destroyed her. 
From the Jane's Gottman Institute bio:
"Unwilling to let circumstances, fear or others define her, Jane was penniless and married at 20, earned an MBA at 24, saw the ocean at 25, commuted to South America each week at 31, brought two sons into the world by 35, was a millionaire at 37, and one of the top 10 women at Microsoft at 40.  By 52, Jane had launched three billion-dollar businesses, been VP of the largest merger in the history of the US, forged global alliances, won lots of awards and left a legacy of strong leaders in her wake.
Along the way to the corner office, Jane was hit on, spit on, shot at, yelled at, a zero and a hero. She’s been called a bulldog, a bitch, an idiot and brilliant, all in the same week.
Married to her high school sweetheart, Jane lives in Washington state and works to make a difference, serving on boards including Boys & Girls Clubs, writing, speaking, and consulting. 
SIGN UP FOR OUR newsletter here
Connect with us on Instagram @meantforit and reach out via email at contact@meantforit.com with your thoughts or suggestions for future episodes. Visit www.meantforit.com for more inspiring stories, and if you leave us a review on iTunes, we'll celebrate with a happy dance!
Favorite Quotes from the Podcast:
"I never look at a no as a no. I always think of it as a not yet."
"I'm no longer afraid to be afraid. And that being afraid means that I am stretching, I am growing, I am trying to do something I've never done before."
"Nobody has the full meal deal. Know what you're good at, embrace that and own it."
"In sharing your secrets and having the courage to share your secrets, that's when you heal."
"Everybody has a secret. And it's the secrets that kill."
"I worked my heine off and I took jobs that required me to travel overseas when my child was one and a half years old and commute."
 

57 min