Congratulations to GM, Ford, Chrysler and MCWT for creating a wonderful program that was both informative and entertaining.  It seems like it has been years since the auto industry CIOs have been together on stage at an event like this, and their message clearly demonstrated that autos have turned the corner.  The joint message from GM, Ford and Chrysler was “we’re hiring IT professionals in southeastern Michigan”.  Good news for every IT organization in the region.

In some small way, the entire southeastern Michigan supplier community breathed a collective sigh of relief knowing that with the new employees will come the need for additional hardware, software, network services, training and other professional support that is the lifeblood of IT suppliers.  Those of us with more than a couple of grey hairs know that the departure of Kmart, Handleman, FTD and other large IT organizations from southeast Michigan combined with the consolidation of regional banks has taken its toll on the local IT markets.  Whether it is employees looking for new career opportunities or salespeople looking for customers, the shrinking base of IT in southeast Michigan was bad for everyone.

News of the Big Three hiring IT professionals is an important bellwether for IT in southeastern Michigan.  It provides a key message for college graduates, mid-career and late-career IT professionals: southeastern Michigan provides tremendous opportunities for IT professionals at all levels of the organization and for various IT positions, including hands-on development, management and sales-related careers.

As a member of the supplier community and one of Compuware’s 4,100 employees based at its headquarters in Detroit, I congratulate GM, Ford and Chrysler for their plans to hire IT professionals in southeast Michigan.  The benefits to the region will help every IT supplier doing business here and every IT professional building a career here.  I hope that other organizations recognize this bellwether and continue to invest in IT initiatives within southeastern Michigan.

Congratulations to MCWT for sponsoring this wonderful event.  While MCWT’s mission is to make Michigan the number one state for women in technology, it recognizes that increasing the percentage of women in a smaller workforce doesn’t equate to the desired effect.  Increasing the number of IT opportunities in Michigan combined with increasing the percentage of women represented is the right formula to produce the desired result.

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Stephen Surhigh is a regional vice president at Compuware.  He has over 20 years of operations, sales and management consulting experience.  Throughout his career, Surhigh has served on various governance boards and strategic and operational committees for private and not-for-profit organizations in Michigan.  He currently holds a position on the advisory board for MCWT.

When I learned about the Executives in Technology Leadership Exchange, the first thought that came to mind was how long it would require me to be out of the office. Being out of the office for a little more than a half-day can seem like such a long time in the midst of multiple priorities and deadlines.  Regardless, I made the effort to reschedule meetings and block the time off on my calendar. At the time, I didn’t realize how grateful I would become for having the opportunity to attend.

This event gave me that reminder and extra motivation to continue to always work hard, putting my best foot forward.  CIOs from various companies took the time away from their day-to-day responsibilities to give back by sharing and making themselves available. They were the live examples of hard work and success. They were doing their part to impact the world as business leaders paying it forward. It was also a reminder that leadership doesn’t necessarily fit into one mold and that professional advancement can come in various styles and diverse backgrounds. During the panel discussion with Nicholas Smither – Ford, Randall Mott – GM, and Scott Sandschafer – Chrysler, it was evident that although each one was successful in their own right, they each represented different styles and views. This theme rang true with the all female CIO panel as well that included CIOs from CISCO, IBM, Walmart, and The Boeing Company.

It was evident that all the panelists were passionate about the IT industry and they also shared pointers for success. Messages around how IT is not about supporting the organization, instead, it drives the foundational strategy for a company’s success. David Behen, CIO for the State of Michigan, shared that he gets a group of CIOs together regularly for what he calls a “kitchen cabinet” to learn and share from one another. Remembering to value each other is timeless advice.

I recognized that I didn’t take time away from my busy workweek; instead I took time to invest in myself, my greatest asset. I left the conference not just appreciating how knowledgeable they were on the IT industry, but also how relatable the leaders were because within that lies the inspiration for others to see themselves achieve.  I may just have to start my own “kitchen cabinet”.  Attending this conference exemplified several things, but most importantly, diversity in leadership.  In totality, the conference was fulfilling and worth every minute.

Investing in you is important and this is what MCWT allowed me to do at the Executives in Technology Leadership Conference. I look forward to the conference in 2014 with high anticipation.

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Karlene Patterson is an ITO PMO supervisor at Ford Motor Company. She earned her Master of Business Administration from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. She is a current member of MCWT and IT Women in Leadership. Karlene is constantly seeking new ways to grow as an IT professional and at the same time, making sure to pay it forward to help others.

I am excited to share my experience on how the Executives in Technology Leadership Exchange 2013 event influenced my future efforts. It was refreshing and exciting to be in a room where the energy was so high. I felt invigorated and it left me with so much enthusiasm. I believe it was due to the wisdom and knowledge the Leadership Panel shared to help women in IT to grow, and the teaching was phenomenal.  Also learning of the job opportunities the event sponsors had to offer: GM, Ford Motor Co., and Chrysler Group. The following executives were included on the Leadership Panel: Kim Hammond, CIO, Boeing Co., Karenann Terrell EVP & CIO Walmart, Shelia Jordon, Sr. VP, Cisco and David Behen CIO, State of Michigan. Overall, it was a great pleasure being able to meet and network with people who share the same interest.

One of the first collaborations was on the selection of recent graduates – Chris Murphy, editor of Information Week, served as facilitator and posed a question to the leadership panel regarding the selection process of recent college graduates. I was glad this question was asked because it prepared me on what’s to be expected when pursuing employment in the IT field. Although I may have the knowledge, my resume doesn’t yet reflect  IT experience.

David Behen, CIO, State of Michigan  shared what he looks for from recent graduates:  projects they worked on, their energy level, what  they bring best to the table, any coaching and development and leadership roles, and where their thinking process lies. The knowledge I gained from David prepared me for my next interview process, and I plan on adding to my portfolio projects.

Kim Hammonds, CIO, The Boeing Company, focused on getting people to trust one another and learn through the process. Her demeanor was calm and I was able to relate to her as she was responding to the facilitator’s question. She was very informative, as was the entire preeminient technology leadership panel as they spoke on future technology.

Lastly, I am in search of a mentor that’s willing to work with me so I won’t lose sight of the vision or the knowledge I gained. This is the boost I needed to stay focused, and I want to give a special thanks to Rita M. Barrios, Ph. D. Assistant Professor for the invitation to attend this conference.

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Detrich Fuller is a recent graduate student from University of Detroit Mercy, May 2012.  She holds a Master of Science degree in information assurance and Bachelor of Science degree in computer Information Systems from Marygrove College. She was consistently on the Dean’s list.  She is an IT and administrative professional with 10 years of experience in facilitating support services and office management in the health care and insurance industries. 

On April 22, 2013 I attended the Executives in Technology Leadership Exchange in Plymouth, Mich. It was really empowering and a wonderful experience to hear all the great information the speakers had to offer. Being a graduate student in the information technology field and looking for employment, I enjoyed hearing about the opportunities that Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler have to offer, as well as the innovative projects Walmart, Boeing, Cisco, IBM, and State of Michigan are working on.

I also enjoyed the keynote speaker Bridget van Kralingen. She spoke very well and was able to touch on every point addressed. The leadership panel was exciting to hear from also; speaking were David Behen, Kim Hammonds, Shelia Jordan, Karenann Terrell, and Bridget van Kralingen. Hearing about the innovative projects that each company plans to implement helped show just how important information technology is.

David Behen says, “You look at who does what best, bring them in and engage those individuals.” It was very interesting to hear how our state works and also about his personal “kitchen cabinet”. The talent definitely needs to stay here in Michigan.

Walmart has an innovative project, the “digital store of the future”. The thought of the digital store of the future is interesting – so many of the customers are mobile and use technology. What would be the best way to reach them other than by the way that they are already familiar?

Learning how to lead is a great opportunity and what better way than to learn and listen to someone who has been there and done it. Karenann Terrell said, “Risk is the key element around planning successful careers”. This was a powerful truth. If you want to reach your full potential, you cannot hold back and stay in the box, you have to get out of the box and just do it.

Shelia Jordan, stated “Be patient with yourself.”

“You have to be a studier and do your best every day and make a difference,” Kim Hammonds said. This touched me because as a student and new to the information technology field, I have studied, read and practiced to be the best I can be. But I also know that I still have a lot more to study and practice, and that it will also probably be something that I will do for the rest of my life. This thought pattern will help to set the bar for you and what you want to achieve in life.

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Tia Gross is a graduate student with the University of Detroit Mercy and a member of the Michigan Council of Women in Technology. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in computer information systems and will be graduating May 2013 with a Master of Science in information assurance.

Why volunteer?    Three reasons:

 1) To learn from others

2) To teach others and

3) To make the world a better place … all three for which creates treasured friendships.

I began my journey with MCWT in 2004 when I sat next to Kristin O’Deh at a Women in Computing awards banquet.   Kristin was the president of the MCWT organization at the time.  The two of us were receiving awards that evening.  Her son was her date, as her husband was out of town.  We talked about children, networking and IT.  What a combination.  Shortly after that meeting, Kristin moved to Texas and I joined the “volunteer” board of MCWT.

I had no idea what I was getting into.  The new president, Cherri Musser, and I immediately became kindred spirits as we delved into what we both had admitted, the unusual world of MCWT.   It was the most glorious and frustrating group of 100% completely committed MCWT women.  As a leader, Cherri created the much needed order and structure MCWT required at that time.   It was an absolute blast working with Cherri; her wit, humility (yes she was auctioned for $1 more than Ralph Szygenda the year they both auctioned themselves off for lunch at the annual Gala), need for productive meetings and organizational order was truly a blessing to the organization and to me.  Other MCWT leaders that followed Cherri were also inspiring.

I learned:

• You can never “over thank” a volunteer.  Leading a volunteer organization, you must thank persistently and often.  This I witnessed and learned from Marcy Klevorn; our MCWT “gratitude champion”.
• As an organization grows, change in infrastructure is a requirement and a positive measure.  This I witnessed and learned from Andi Karaboutis; our MCWT “change manager”.

I could go on and on…because my learning came from far more people than the former MCWT presidents.  These individuals are simply the easiest to pick on.

I feel a special closeness to the MCWT partnership committee.  And it is on this committee where I spent the most time.  Creating infrastructure and the strategy for growth was and is my passion.  Of course I surrounded myself with others that had this same passion; Tracy Ann, Jill, Carey, Chris – and if you know this powerful group of individuals, the probability of success was inevitable.  J  Each of us came from different organizations, each of us brought a unique approach, each of us were and are “coachable” and together we made it happen.   I treasure these friendships.   This is why you volunteer.   Whether you are the CIO of a billion-dollar enterprise, an executive of a smaller organization, or business development representatives from major IT organizations – we all share something in common – entrepreneurial enthusiasm and spirit on behalf of the mission we serve.   This commonality creates deep and rich friendships that cannot be measured.  I thank MCWT for the opportunity to serve and the long lasting relationships this organization has brought to my life.

What are some of the benefits you’ve experienced from volunteering?

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Jane Sydlowski has more than 26 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry. As president of AMI Strategies, she is accountable for all business aspects and has created a vision for AMI that includes 100% client satisfaction, profitable growth, and respect for the individual and employee empowerment.  Jane has a Bachelor of Science in applied engineering from Michigan State University and an MBA from Wayne State University, and is an active member of MCWT.

Today I was asked about my career in IT – “what makes you stay in IT and how do you keep the spark?”  So, I’ve spent the last few hours thinking about this question and it dawns on me that the root of it all is that I LOVE what I do.  I know many of you were expecting me to say something like working with the technologies of 2013 or helping to build the careers of the next generation.  Yes, all of those are great things and very rewarding, but that’s not really what keeps me going.

I think I am one of the lucky ones that were incredibly fortunate to find something I loved within the first year of my undergraduate degree at Detroit College of Business.  I didn’t ever think that someday I would code, let alone teach and work with cyber security concerns.  It just sort of happened.  You see, I ended up with a double major, accounting and CIS (on the insistence of my advisor).  With this and being new at this college life thing, and with registration systems the way they were (… standing in long lines), one of the few classes open for me to take was a programming class.  I quickly discovered that I loved programming, but not so much the accounting stuff. So here I am 20-plus years later with a BS, MS and PhD in information systems, two outstanding careers in IT as a DBA and professor, and the owner of an IT-focused small business.

Going hand in hand with this, I’m often asked “how did you plan your career?”  Well, I didn’t actually.  Like my undergrad program where my advisor offered up an opportunity, I simply took it without analyzing what the outcome may be.  My whole career has been about opportunities.  As nebulous and abstract as that sounds, I have just sort of drifted through my career and along the way have taken opportunities that were presented without any real thought of where it might take me.  I know this is crazy and some even would call it careless.  But what I’ve found is that if you just let yourself go and not be so analytical about it all, fantastic opportunities open up!  For example, my first job was working midnights in a data center for Canadian National Railroad (formerly known as Grand Trunk Western Railroad) which I can tell you, it is not the most exciting place to be in the IT community.   Don’t get me wrong, I learned a tremendous amount about the inter-workings of the IT operations, but didn’t care too much for the sitting in a 68 degree/no humidity room for 8 hours a night bringing up CICS regions and printing the next day’s shipping reports.  One day the IT manager asked if I wanted to work on an EDI project.  “Absolutely!” I said with great enthusiasm, even though I had no idea what EDI was.  So, I spent my days researching and learning to figure out exactly what was being asked and what EDI actually was.  That eventually led me to being asked a year or so later to sit on the X12 EDI Standards Committee for Automated Manifest working with the American Association of Railroads in Washington DC.  My whole career has been like this.  Opportunities present themselves and if they are interesting enough, then I jump in feet first.  Yep, at times it’s scary, but for the most part, it has had rewards so great that they are simply outstanding.

This “careless” attitude also led me to MCWT in about 2008 while working for Compuware.  I happened to be in a meeting focused on diversity when the leader said she needed someone to be the liaison to MCWT for an upcoming fundraising event.  I said I would do it and now some eight years later, I’m co-VP of Partner Development with Vishakha Radia of Cisco where our team generates significant funds to support the outreach that MCWT does.  Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to get to know and work with some of the most outstanding people in the IT industry, both men and women, and to directly influence the next generation’s successes.

So, that’s the spark that keeps me in IT… with a little faith, hope and trust to let fate take over, I am doing exactly what I LOVE and am exactly where I want to be.

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Dr. Barrios brings with her over 18 years of information technology experience.  Her primary skills reside in the areas of database design, data modeling, SQL performance tuning and standardization.  She spent many years as a senior application developer, technical project lead and project manager in the financial and transportation industries.  Dr. Barrios serves MCWT as the VP of Partner Development, focusing on the development of partnerships with influential organizations in the IT industry. 

Over the last 30 years, much has changed in the information technology industry.  New programming languages and methodologies have emerged, computing devices have become commonplace, and access to information has become ubiquitous via “the Net.”  Too often, we focus on the technology and the next big thing to come, ignoring perhaps the greatest asset that we have – people.

When I joined IBM as a college graduate, part of the new employee orientation covered IBM’s core beliefs.  First among those was “Respect for the individual.”  It’s a simple phrase, but there’s tremendous power in those words if we choose to live and operate with that basic principle.

Consider for a moment what it means to be empowered.  How would you define empowerment?  Is it something that you value?  Can someone make you empowered, or does it take some personal commitment to be empowered?  As a leader (and we’re all leaders in various situations), what impact could you have on others by creating an empowering environment?  How can we unleash the potential within ourselves and in others?

I believe the key to these questions is by investing in people (including ourselves) and taking on the role of a servant leader.

At Ford, we have been actively pursuing a cultural change within our application development organization.  For the last several years we have been investing in the creation of a more empowering environment.  And those efforts are paying dividends.  In fact, we are discovering that empowerment is key to another transformation for the organization – the adoption of Agile development practices.

People are capable of amazing achievements if given the proper encouragement and opportunities.  That’s a leader’s responsibility – to create the conditions for their people to grow through both success and failure, to innovate by exploring new ideas, and to ultimately serve the needs of others by being a part of a larger team or taking on leadership roles themselves.  However, no one can make you become empowered – it requires a personal commitment.

So, I’ll ask again.  Is it something that you value?  If so, are you investing?  Are you investing in yourself?  Are you investing in others?  Have you ever discussed this topic with your leader, and if not, what would happen if you did?

There are numerous resources available to you if you desire to cultivate your own understanding of empowerment and servant leadership. Beyond books and lectures on the topics, MCWT’s networking and mentoring programs could be valuable assets as well.

After all, it’s about people and relationships.

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Scott Roundy has 29 years of IT and industry experience at IBM, Microsoft, as an independent consultant, and Ford Motor Company.  He presently is a Consulting Architect with Ford’s Application Development organization, and previously was director of IT Security and Strategy.  He has been a member of the MCWT Advisory Board since 2010.  

The changes in global economics and the growing strength of emerging economies have forced many organizations to become truly global for the first time. We often hear people say that the world has become a smaller place to do business because of the internet and what some would refer to as the age of connectivity. To succeed in this new world, you must first embrace its differences and the multi-cultural environment we now operate in.

When I first took a global role, I had no shortage of people who wanted to advise me on how to be successful with most telling me about the differences I would find, the things I should be weary of and the challenges I would face. All of these things are true, but what I have found is to be successful you must find the things that draw you together and not concentrate too heavily those that push you apart. I have worked for a Japanese company for the past 23 years and during that time have learned a lot about the values and etiquette that come from the Japanese culture. There are things that are different to a western society most notably in the west we tend to trust nobody until they earn trust – in a Japanese culture it is typically the opposite – you are afforded trust and respect from the start but if lost it is difficult to regain.

What I have found consistent the world over is that we all have similar core values. In the many countries I have done business, I have found the values of integrity, trust and respect are a common set of attributes which bind us together. So my advice is not to be afraid of global business, make sure you respect the customs and traditions of the countries you wish to do business in, but most importantly concentrate on the common attributes which connect us and the core values we all respect.

Last but not least, remember that we all want to enjoy what we do – people want to do business with people they like, so the most important thing to remember is to take your sense of humor with you and have fun!

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Paul Warburton is the Global Account Director and Head of the Automotive sector at Fujitsu with the responsibility of leading both global account teams and the service-led strategy. He also serves as an executive member of Fujitsu’s Global Automotive Business Community, actively participates in Fujitsu’s Future Leaders Training and is a two-year Advisory Board Member of the Michigan Council of Women in Technology (MCWT).

Hello from Germany!    Though I do stay in touch with MCWT’s happenings, and remain on the advisory board, Michigan feels like a world away sometimes.   The challenges of creating the momentum we have with MCWT here in Europe is a little more challenging given the variety of cultures, diverse countries and languages, and geography.  The teams here are making great strides, having launched a Professional Women’s Network (PWN) for Ford of Europe, and it has been an honor for me to play a part.

I thought of MCWT as we all celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8^th.  This day has been observed since the early 1900′s, and the 2013 theme was “The Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum”.  International Women’s Day events honor and celebrate the achievements of women all around the world, ranging from small informal gatherings to large highly organized events.   I found this link a great reminder on how far we have come, and how much we have in common around the globe:

Meet Carmen and look at some interesting facts and statistics about the changes and developments that have impacted women in the workforce.

We have so much to be proud of as MCWT continues work to ensure the future possibilities are even greater for young girls and each other!

Paul Warburton, on our Advisory Board, is a great bridge between Michigan and Europe, and I love to do the same, thinking of ways we can share information and learn from each other.   I am in awe of the continued, exponential success MCWT enjoys, and continue to be motivated by you.   Thank you for having me!

Danke!

Marcy

Marcy Klevorn is the CIO of Ford of Europe and Global Enterprise Program Office, accountable to the Chairman & CEO of Ford of Europe, and is a member of the Ford of Europe Operating Committee (EOC).  She serves on the boards of Lawrence Technological University and Michigan Council of Women in Technology.

Where is the female equivalent of a Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, or Mark Zuckerberg?

These men represent the “T” from the easily recognized STEM fields -Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.  Even in today’s enlightened society, many people still view careers in this industry as part of the “good ol’ boys club”.  When it comes to computer science and other areas of technology, young boys seem to have an edge.  They are not only encouraged to play video games, but to learn the coding it takes to produce one; the new-age pocket watch that needs to be taken apart and reassembled, for lack of a better analogy.  Even though girls have an almost equal interest in playing video games, are they using their curiosity to dissect the code and fiddle with their favorite game to either improve it or just learn what makes it work?  And, for those girls who have this natural curiosity, are  parents and schools encouraging them to explore their interests?

I visited  Lawrence Technological University’s website and found that career opportunities in IT are expected to grow well into the next decade, thanks for corporations integrating globally and the need for reliable and rapid transfer of data.  Some say the percentage of growth will exceed 30 percent.

As a member of MCWT, I feel we need to either mentor and/or support women of all ages when they show an interest in pursuing a career in technology.  As I researched this topic, I discovered some sobering statistics.  Today, women hold only 27 percent of all computer science jobs – this is down from 30 percent a decade ago.  We account for only 20 percent of undergraduate computer science degrees, again down from 36 percent in 1986. Over the past decade, jobs in the STEM fields grew at three times the rate and earned female employees an average of $30-plus per hour compared to non-STEM fields that paid $19-plus per hour.  The wage gap is also 7 percent less when comparing the difference between men’s and women’s earning powers.

Maybe it’s not too late for another New Year’s Resolution?  May I suggest that the next time you or your child is invited to a young girl’s birthday party – the gift you bring should be a box of Lego’s instead of a Barbie?  Or, work with your child’s school or go back to your grade school or high school and volunteer to create the curriculum for an after-school program to help young girls find confidence with their courses in math, science and computing.  I’m sure there is a long list of ideas; please feel free to share them, as well as the ones that didn’t work out.

As for learning on our own – don’t forget that MCWT members can join www.lynda.com for free…check it out today.

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Suzanne Rutkowski joined Biznet Internet Solutions in January 2012 as a business development manager.  Biznet specializes in web and mobile solutions that increase market share, enable online commerce, improve customer service, and automate processes.  Suzanne’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in general business, and a Paralegal Certificate from Oakland University.  Her hobbies include gardening, reading, and networking with various business organizations.