Gabrielle Heyman, 53, is the founder and owner of an award-winning technology firm. Her journey began more than 20 years ago, when the World Wide Web was still in its infancy. As a young adult she found herself very disoriented about her prospects of having a meaningful career. She rode the rough waves of the tech bubble and her hard-earned experience informs her even now, particularly in this exciting and confusing time around artificial intelligence.
Heyman’s journey started during what is widely considered as the height of the internet bubble hype and speculation. She remembers, “I thought I was definitely going to get furloughed.” Such a statement further underscores the volatile climate of the tech industry in its early years. We are still digging out from the impact of the Dotcom bubble bursting in 2001. It triggered enormous economic upheaval leading to about 168,395 tech jobs lost on the year. It was Heyman’s flexibility and love of her craft that allowed her to make it through this stormy chapter.
From her present role as vice president of global brand sales and partnerships at video game developer Zynga, her self-described bounce-back-ability shines through. Heyman is highly attuned to her clients’ needs. She is a hands-on power user of the technology, and that has been key to her success. “Being up on what clients are doing, playing with the technology yourself,” she emphasizes, helped her navigate challenges and seize opportunities.
The uncertainty in the early days of the World Wide Web was palpable. They allowed Heyman to cultivate the necessary art and science of sales. She discovered that she really loved this space, which was more about establishing connections and knowing what your customers want. Now looking back on her formative years, this is what she has to say about it all, “The people I worked with were sweeter. Their kindness was the reason I was doing better.”
As the tech landscape evolves once again with the rise of artificial intelligence, Heyman draws parallels to her own career transitions. Automation is more than a future employer problem—it’s the present one, as 41% of employers already expect the AI tools they introduce to displace current jobs. This change is similar to the plight of companies in the Dotcom bust that needed to make hard adjustments to an industry’s new reality.
“Look at how the company is investing in long-term talent, infrastructure and leadership,” Heyman advises those currently navigating this new terrain. She implores us to be proactive and adaptable in a time of fast-paced technological frontier.
Like many business journalists, Heyman found himself in deep waters during the Dotcom bubble. Her commitment to and passion for this work kept the fire in her going. She claims much of the riff raff is eliminated too. Most importantly, success goes to the folks who work hard and truly care — who are dedicated to their craft.