Linda Singh
Managing Director, Accenture
Arlington, Va.
Linda Singh is a prime example of what can happen when you defy the odds. Homeless and a high school dropout, she joined the military and never looked back.? Since her decision to enlist, Singh has managed two careers?one of them serving in the Maryland Army National Guard, currently as brigadier general, a career to which she has dedicated more than 32 years; the other at Accenture Federal Services, where she has worked for more than 19 years in a variety of roles that include business operations lead, client account lead, and her present title of managing director within Public Safety. ?Joining the military strengthened and reinforced the natural born leader in me. Joining Accenture has stretched, challenged and satisfied me in ways I would have never imagined,? Singh says.
In 2011, Singh was deployed to Afghanistan for a year, where she served as Afghan-Security Forces Operations Chief as part of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command. She has made, and clings to, education as a top priority. Singh holds a bachelor?s degree in business administration from Columbia Union College, two master?s degrees ? from Touro University International in business administration and from Army War College in strategic studies ? and a Masters Certificate Lean Six Sigma from Villanova University. She also recently completed the International Women?s leadership Fellowship Program at Harvard University and currently is pursuing a doctorate in industrial organizational psychology. Within the next five years, Singh also hopes to embark upon an independent business venture with her husband.
Not surprisingly, Singh has plenty of advice for young women. She offers the following on how to achieve one?s goals: ?You need to develop a plan and that plan needs to look like a career tree ? plan your branches and your leaves, then go forth. You can?t hesitate ? just go out and get it.?
