Heather Wolf
I’m a Senior Offering Manager and hybrid employee based in San Francisco, California. In my role within the Business Models and Pricing organization, I collaborate with various industry strategy teams across Autodesk’s portfolio to optimize new and existing offers aimed at driving growth in Autodesk’s revenue and profitability. In addition to my day-to-day role, I am a member of Autodesk Veterans Network (AVN) and Autodesk Indigenous Network (AIN).
Autodesk Veterans Network is an employee resource group (ERG) with a mission to enable Autodesk veterans to have thriving careers and make Autodesk a veteran employer of choice. I joined AVN as a participant when they announced an engagement opportunity with Hire Heroes. As a U.S. Army veteran, I know the uncertainty that comes with separation from service, so it was important to be a part of the mentorship engagement with Hire Heroes.
Autodesk Indigenous Network is a new ERG launched earlier this year to give a voice to Indigenous Autodesk employees, creating awareness and sharing the Indigenous experience with others. As a First American of Chickasaw and Choctaw descent, I’m proud to be on the AIN board as the finance lead. With hundreds of millions of Indigenous people around the world and continued efforts to undercount our people, it was important to me to be a part of this ERG. We are intentional about being a community that recognizes Indigenous people within Autodesk on a global scale and welcomes our non-Indigenous colleagues to walk with us.
The past shapes the future
My experience in the military had a significant impact on my career path. I enlisted as a 17-year-old and was shipped off from California to South Carolina two months after my 18th birthday. I did not enlist as a means of survival; it was just the next step in my journey. I quickly came to understand that the majority of people were there because they had no other options. They came from regions where employment or health care was non-existent; some were given an option to enlist or a record or jail time (which still blows my mind); and the person I was buddied up with left her toddler with her parents to provide and build a future for them both.
Life came at me fast at 18; I got a lesson that you never know what people are going through. All states in the U.S. are not equal in opportunity and services, sadly by design – even an NBA cheerleader turned to military service as a means for a better life. It’s important to listen and learn from people who are different from you, or you might miss out on a buddy for life.
My Indigenous heritage has impacted my career journey as well. Chickasaws were known as a warrior nation; both men and women participated in battles. Both of my parents answered the call to serve, and it was a natural path for me to follow in that tradition. As a result, operating structures and accountability are ingrained in me and influence how I approach my work at Autodesk. The First American philosophy of observation in nature — where all things are considered different but equal neither one above the other — has informed my approach in taking on new challenges and roles every two to three years at Autodesk. I’m always looking for new ways to learn and make an impact.
Enhancing community and professional development
Autodesk’s employee resource groups offer a vital network for our members, providing a platform for shared understanding, mentorship, and a sense of community that fosters personal growth, professional development, and a deeper connection to the company’s inclusive culture. In my experience, there is an unmatched camaraderie among veterans. The most pressure a person might undergo in life, both mental and physical, happens while serving, so just knowing there are others within the company who have been in your boots is weirdly comforting. The Indigenous network has a similar sentiment for me, but more in a sense of membership. Knowing there are colleagues I work with who share a familiar heritage at the core of your being is refreshing.
There are so many wonderful opportunities that come with being part of an ERG. Personally, having the chance to mentor soldiers with mock interviewing and resume writing through Hire Heroes has humbled me every time, and it has translated to being more objective when asked to participate in the Autodesk hiring process. And last year, as a member of an underserved community, I was nominated to participate in Autodesk’s NEXT LEVEL leadership program, where I had the opportunity to polish my leadership skills and collaborate with an executive sponsor who introduced me to their network.
To anyone considering joining AIN, AVN, or any other ERG, I say do it! Allyship is powerful in all forms of contribution. Many corporations are under a lot of pressure these days to divest from DEI initiatives, so I’m happy that Autodesk continues to make this investment in all our people with good intent.
Learn more about Autodesk’s employee resource groups here.