Emily Cook Women in Business Award 2026

Emily Cook

QuicksortRx

Operations Coordinator

Charleston

Emily Cook has worked in the software industry for over 25 years in a variety of leadership roles, guiding businesses from start-up through maturity. Prior to joining QuicksortRx in 2021, Cook spent more than 20 years at Hawkes Learning, working in a variety of roles, from quality assurance tester to vice president of sales and marketing. She is a graduate of College of Charleston.

How do you define leadership?

Creating trust and a positive environment so people can do their best work.

What makes you an effective leader? (Your greatest strength). What are you still working on?

As a leader, it’s less about having all the answers and solving all the problems but more about listening and creating a collaborative environment for productive working! This is a work in progress.. As an action-oriented, high-energy person, I have to remind myself to slow down, pause, listen, not react so fast.

Is there a mentor who has meant a lot to you in your career?

Not a specific person per se, but honestly, my kids inspire me to be a better leader, coworker, and mom.. Parenting has a lot of overlap to leadership when you really think about it.

What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?

The fear of getting something wrong or letting people down. But waiting until you feel completely ready usually means nothing happens so I generally seek resources that I trust and take the next step from there.

What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our readers?

Try new things, take risks, get out of your comfort zone. Without it, growth can't happen and energy dwindles.

What would you say is your greatest professional accomplishment to date?

Watching the people I hired and mentored at one time or another go on to be extremely successful and fulfilled in work and personally!

What one thing have you learned that has served you well over the years?

Keep true to your personal values -- the fundamentals of honesty and kindness keep me grounded.

If there is one thing you could go back and do differently what would it be?

Had more fun! I spent a lot of years being too serious and focused on specific aspects of work instead of taking more breaks and time to enjoy milestones and wins!