Janet Perna
Janet Perna | |
|---|---|
| Born | Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Computer scientist, business executive |
| Years active | 1974–2006 |
| Known for | Leading IBM's database-related projects, overseeing IBM Db2 commercial launch, role in IBM's acquisition of Informix Corporation |
Janet Perna is a prominent American computer scientist known for leading IBM's database-related projects.
Education and career
Raised in Poughkeepsie, New York, Perna completed her undergraduate studies in mathematics at SUNY Oneonta in 1970. She initially pursued a career in mathematics education before joining IBM in 1974 as a programmer. Her early work was based in San Jose, later transitioning to the Santa Teresa Laboratory. Throughout her career at IBM, she progressed within the data management and information management sectors. Among her significant contributions were overseeing the preparation of IBM Db2 for its commercial launch and playing a pivotal role in IBM's 2001 acquisition of Informix Corporation. Perna was crucial in broadening IBM’s data management operations into emerging markets and setting industry benchmarks, ultimately becoming the highest-ranking female executive at IBM by 2001. After dedicating 31 years to the company, she retired in 2006.
Honors and awards
While at IBM, Perna earned induction into the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame and was recognized as one of the "Top 10 Women in IT" by InformationWeek within the United States.
In 2012, she was awarded an honorary degree from State University of New York at Oneonta, which honored her further by naming a facility the "Janet R. Perna Science Building" in 2018.
Her leadership achievements in database management garnered her inclusion among the "Top 50 Women to Watch" by Women in Technology International and she received the Computerworld "Leadership Award." Additionally, eWeek featured her as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential People in IT." Her strategic involvement was instrumental to IBM’s acquisition of Informix Corporation, underscoring her significant influence within the technology sector.