Five for Five Interview with Sarah Manyika

Abstract

Under “education” my CV lists the three universities I’ve attended alongside my degrees. What the CV doesn’t include are my “A” level results which were a C, D, and an E— the E for English literature. Under “career details” are my various editor and teaching jobs at universities, and my earlier secretarial jobs. What the CV doesn’t mention is that I was fired from my first job as a typist for not being able to type fast enough. And although my list of publications is now fairly long what the CV doesn’t show is the list of rejections which is many times longer. All this to say, that like everyone, struggle, rejection and failure is also a part of my past and present and forms me just as much as any success or accomplishments.