Angelique X. Irvin

Chairman & CEO, Clear Align, Eagleville, Pennsylvania, USA
Country of birth: USA

Educational background: MBA Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania; BS Ceramic Engineering, Alfred University

A typical work day
The first thing I do when I get to the office (after getting my cup of coffee)is plan out my day. I make a list of everything that needs to get done and then prioritize the tasks as As, Bs, and Cs. With so many tasks to complete, events to attend, and problems to solve each and every day, it is important that I have a structured plan of attack. After I plan my day, I have several short meetings (we call them "huddles") with my employees. Respective departments gather for 15 minutes in the morning to discuss the day's objectives, what tasks need special attention, and what problems people need help solving. After the morning huddles, I start working through my list of A, B, and C priorities. Although phone calls, e-mails, and impromptu meetings sometimes pull me away from completing all the tasks I planned to tackle, they are often just as important as what is on my priority list.

What I enjoy most
The part of my job that I enjoy the most is the overarching mission that Clear Align works toward: to save lives. Our products are used to protect the warfighter and our citizens at home. When my day gets stressful, I simply remind myself of the difference our work makes. I am also reminded of the talent I am fortunate enough to employ and work with daily.

Words of wisdom
Two pieces of advice: more mentors, more delegation. Although I have a fabulous circle of leaders around me now, I was not always so lucky. I would have benefited from working with mentors early on. Knowing this, I am now able to mentor others. I encourage my peers to become mentors, and
I encourage those who are starting out to seek mentorship. I also advise women to delegate more. Women tend not to delegate effectively because we would rather do it all ourselves. In order to get more things done, however, we need to relinquish some of our responsibilities to others and focus where our talents lie.