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Julie Fergerson
Co-Founder, ClearCommerce & Co-Chairman Merchant Risk Council
ClearCommerce
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Bio:
Julie Fergerson is the technical inspiration behind ClearCommerce's integrated Internet transaction processing solutions. Fergerson is among the few Internet elites with 20 years' experience.
After six years at IBM, Fergerson puts her Internet experience to work mapping out ClearCommerce's technical vision. According to Fergerson, integrating the Internet sale with legacy systems, protecting retailers and consumers from fraud, and making online payments safe, secure, and automated are key elements of ClearCommerce technology. Her vision also comes from a commitment to understand customer needs - lowering development costs and accelerating time to market.
Fergerson envisions the company as an integral part of a fully automated electronic commerce solution that begins at the Internet storefront and ends at the parcel delivery company.
Community involvement:
I speak at local events, and present to high school students whenever possible.
My "good deed" involvement is done at a national level working with the FBI, Secret Service, United States Postal Inspector, and local law enforcement in the prosecution and conviction of criminals against online fraud. I co-chair a non-profit organization called the Merchant Risk Council, which is backed by many large merchants such as Amazon.com, Yahoo, and Best Buy as well as the credit card companies, Visa, American Express, MasterCard, and Discover. Additionally, from time to time I address sub-comittees at the White House to explain security risks related to e-commerce.
Person most admired:
One reason for my success is that I have had many mentors. When I desire a skill, I find the person I think is best at it and learn from them.
Favorite book:
My favorite book is "Where the Sidewalk Ends" because it always makes me laugh. The book that most shaped my professional growth is "How to Make Friends and Influence People."
What I enjoy most about my work:
The ability to incorporate technology in a way that has never been done before AND is very useful and makes a lot of sense for the end user.
Greatest accomplishment:
My marriage of 14 years and my baby. Always placing family as the number one priority over career. Career is very important, and I work very hard at it, but keeping the prespective that family is the most important thing is extremely difficult, and something I am very proud of accomplishing.
Greatest challenge:
Starting a company, even after 8 years, I still am learning a lot everyday and it is still a challenge.
Leaving a safe secure and successful career at IBM to start a company.
Advances I envision in my field over the next 10 years:
BioTech will become mainstream.
Computers will get incorporated into everyday appliances and become hidden to the consumer and become significantly more useful.
The advances in medicine really excite me as well. In the next 10 years we will see the cure for diabetes, and hopefully a significant dent in the prevention of Cancer and Aids.
Strategies to maintain balance in my life:
Always setting aside time for family.
Advice for emerging entrepreneurs:
When people tell you it can't be done, do it anyway! So many people told me along the way, "that is not possible." Take that as a challenge -- and make it possible.
Also, many entrepreneurs spend too much time planning and analyzing and not enough time just doing the hard work. Get started, and do the hard work.
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