5 Career-Defining Lessons From TaskUs Women Leaders

Leading up to International Women’s Day, TaskUs held a panel discussion featuring some of the company’s top women executives. They shared their personal experiences and powerful lessons that have shaped their professional journeys.

In particular, the women revealed strategies for visibility, risk-taking and building diverse teams while debunking career myths they once believed — misconceptions that, had they realized sooner, could have made their paths smoother.

Here are five key takeaways from these accomplished leaders.

Mentorship is a two-way street

The best mentor-mentee relationship is built on mutual respect.

It’s not just mentees who learn from their mentors, according to Linda Camp-Noto, senior vice president, client services, TaskUs. “Great mentors go beyond sharing expertise; they listen, learn and celebrate wins alongside their mentees.”

She believes that true mentorship thrives on mutual feedback, shared networks and real sponsorship. Success also requires setting clear goals, open communication and healthy boundaries for the relationship to be effective.

A safe environment encourages people to take risks

You won’t take a risk in an environment where you'll be penalized when things don't pan out.

Leaders must foster a culture where asking questions, making mistakes and showing vulnerability are encouraged.

Claudia Walsh, chief legal officer, TaskUs, also emphasizes the importance of prioritizing psychological safety. When people feel safe to take risks, they become more engaged, collaborative, adaptive and creative. This sense of trust also encourages employees to take ownership rather than just follow instructions, providing a stronger sense of purpose and driving better productivity and efficiency.

Expand your circle for opportunity and mentorship

Opportunities don’t just happen; you create them.

From Snow Burns, senior vice president, marketing, TaskUs, perspective, career development has a dual nature — combining personal initiative through resource-seeking and network-building with leadership responsibility that extends beyond immediate teams.  She emphasizes how proactive approaches benefit both individual growth and organizational success.

She also points out that mentorship isn’t just about looking up. “Aside from senior leaders, lateral peers and junior colleagues can offer valuable insights and expertise,” she says.

Don’t wait to be noticed

If you have an idea, speak up.

Violaine Duchateau, vice president, client services, TaskUs urges women, “Step forward, take action and ask for opportunities.”

Many women hold back due to self-doubt or impostor syndrome. They often question their own capabilities or wait for permission to take the next step. “I was someone who needed people to tell me I can do this,” Claudia admits. 

Leaders and mentors play a crucial role in cultivating this mindset, Violaine notes. “By offering encouragement, guidance and recognition, they can help other women build the confidence to step outside their comfort zones.”

Team strength comes from diversity

If you hire too many people who think like you do . . . you build a weaker team.

Studies show that managers tend to hire people like themselves. It’s human nature. But there’s also research that’s overwhelmingly found — diverse teams perform better.

Both Snow and Claudia urge people to move past this reflex, highlighting the importance of building teams made up of members who bring different perspectives, skills and experiences — people who may even be smarter than yourself. [i.e., the hiring manager]   

The same principle applies to who can lead. “There’s no one specific type of leader,” Violaine notes. “Whether introverted or extroverted, people don’t need to fit a certain mold but rather embrace their strengths.”

With the right mindset and support, anyone — especially women — can lead and succeed in their own ways.

Moving women forward

Overall, the leaders emphasize that career growth requires more than just technical skills or hard work. The right insights, connections and mindset can open doors, challenge perspectives and transform career trajectories.

This panel discussion is just one of the many initiatives being driven by the Women of TaskUs Employee Resource Group (ERG) during Women's History Month. 

Dedicated to advancing women in both their professional and personal journeys, Women of TaskUs aims to foster mentorship, learning and advocacy. In line with this mission, we also launched a new internal mentorship program where TaskUs teammates worldwide can become mentors and support the growth and development of their peers.

As of December 2024, women comprise 49% of our global team and hold 46% of leadership positions. We’re proud to be recognized for our ongoing efforts to empower women and build a diverse, inclusive workplace. 

To name a few, we’re named Best Company for Women, Best CEO for Women and Best Company for Diversity by Comparably. In 2023, TaskUs was included in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index that gauges the performance of public companies dedicated to reporting gender-related data.