Minette Norman
Minette Norman is an award-winning author, speaker, leadership consultant, and former Silicon Valley software executive who spent decades leading global teams.
Minette knows that when groups embrace all aspects of human diversity, breakthroughs emerge, and innovation accelerates. Her most recent position before starting her consultancy was Vice President of Engineering Practice at Autodesk. Responsible for influencing more than 3,500 engineers around the globe, she focused on state-of-the-art engineering practices while nurturing a collaborative and inclusive culture.
A highly sought-after speaker, Minette has inspired audiences around the world to challenge the status quo and embrace a new model of leadership focused on human connection, empathy, and curiosity. Named one of the “Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business” by the San Francisco Business Times and as “Business Role Model of the Year” in the Women in IT/Silicon Valley Awards, Minette is a recognized leader with a unique perspective. As the author of The Boldly Inclusive Leader and the co-author of The Psychological Safety Playbook, Minette is committed to helping leaders unleash the full potential of the people in their organizations.
LinkedIn: @minettenorman/
Instagram: @minettenorman/
X (Formerly Twitter): @minettenorman
Favorite non-reading activity?
I love to walk. When I’m feeling stuck or frustrated with something I’m working on, going out for a walk often leads to breakthrough ideas. I can walk for miles and miles, and I always feel better after a walk, whether it’s a walk in the city or a challenging hike in nature. When I’m on vacation, my favorite thing is discovering a new city on foot. I was recently in Copenhagen for a speaking engagement and spent a few days walking everywhere around the city—what a treat!
Is there another profession you would like to try?
University professor. When I was young, several of my best friends’ parents were university professors, and I was always intrigued by their work. I’ve had the opportunity to give guest lectures in a few university classes over the past few years, and I love interacting with students who are eager for knowledge.
What’s the difference (at least for you!) between being a writer and an author? How do you shift gears between the two?
I was a writer for decades before becoming an author. My first ten years in the software industry were spent as a technical writer—I wrote manuals and help systems for many products. My first claim to fame was writing the Adobe Photoshop version 1.0 tutorial in 1990. I did not consider myself an author then; writing was something companies paid me to do. Now that I have two published books, I think of myself as an author. To me, being an author means that I have books that people can buy around the world, people contact me to speak or deliver workshops based on the books, and most of the work I get is the result of being a publisher author.
What do you worry about?
I worry about the polarization in the U.S. and around the world. Whenever we see people as “other,” we dehumanize them and stop seeing them as fellow community members, citizens of the world, or colleagues. We stop listening with curiosity and instead, judge and label the people we don’t agree with. And it’s very hard not to do that, especially when we experience insulting, discriminatory, or cruel behavior and language.
What brings you great joy?
Connecting with other human beings brings me joy. A long, laughter-filled phone call with my best friend, a lively dinner party, a conversation with a random stranger at the supermarket, or just hanging out with my husband doing not much of anything—these are the moments that bring me joy.
