Stanley Black & Decker

Shaping my Style through Pivotal Career Moments

I feel incredibly fortunate to have built a career at the intersection of IT and business strategy. Reflecting on my journey, there are pivotal moments that have profoundly influenced my leadership style. During my 19 years at GE, frequent organizational restructures exposed me to a diverse array of leadership styles. Each leader brought a unique approach to achieving common goals, and I made it a point to learn from them, adopting strategies that resonated with me while discarding those that didn’t align with my values.

Importantly, I also focused on nurturing my own personality, skills, and traits to remain authentic. Leadership, at its core, is about balancing learned strategies with personal authenticity. This approach has helped me grow into a leader who values adaptability, continuous learning, and staying true to oneself.

Turning Constraints into Catalysts

Every organization faces its own set of challenges, and for IT teams, budgetary constraints are often among the most pressing. In today’s environment, we’re tasked with delivering impactful results while minimizing investment. To address this, I constantly challenge the status quo, exploring innovative ways to execute projects efficiently or clearly demonstrating the business benefits of necessary investments.

On a personal level, the rapid evolution of technology—especially AI—presents both opportunities and challenges. Staying ahead means dedicating time to educate myself and my teams, ensuring we’re equipped to leverage new methodologies and technologies effectively. Balancing this learning process while delivering on current responsibilities is a delicate but critical task.

Bridging the Gap between Tech and Business

Bridging technical and non-technical teams requires clear communication and shared understanding. My approach begins with setting clear expectations and ensuring every team member understands their role within the broader initiative. It’s essential for everyone to recognize how their contributions fit into the puzzle and why their collaboration is vital for success.

 It’s essential for everyone to recognize how their contributions fit into the puzzle and why their collaboration is vital for success 

When working across IT and business teams, I prioritize process alignment before diving into technical solutions. By eliminating jargon and focusing first on the business needs and workflows, we establish a foundation of agreement. Only then do we explore how technology can address challenges, automate processes, or drive innovation. This method fosters trust and ensures smoother execution of strategic initiatives.

Tech-Driven Trends Redefining Manufacturing Leadership

The manufacturing and tools sector is evolving rapidly, and several trends are set to redefine IT leadership:

• Engineering Technology: Tools that accelerate product design and development will be key to staying competitive.

• Supply Chain Automation: Transportation management and forecasting tools, especially those enhanced by AI, will drive efficiency and resilience.

• Data Strategy: Data remains at the heart of innovation. A robust data strategy is essential for generating actionable insights, reducing complexity, and enabling automation.

These trends underscore the growing importance of agility, data-driven decision-making, and technology integration in shaping the sector’s future.

Empowering the Next Wave of IT Leaders, Especially Women in Tech

To emerging IT leaders, my advice is to focus on building credibility and fostering meaningful relationships. Identify “sponsors” within your organization—leaders who believe in you and support your growth. While they are valuable partners, remember that your success ultimately depends on your own actions and efforts. Seek out mentors who can guide you and help you navigate challenges.

Speak up about your needs and actively pursue roles that challenge you and showcase your skills. Embrace your values and background as unique strengths, and don’t shy away from mistakes—they are invaluable learning opportunities.

As you step into leadership roles, remember that your greatest responsibility will likely be to your team. Treat them with respect, give them a voice, and empower them to succeed. Their achievements will reflect your leadership, and enabling their success will ultimately drive your own. Above all, enjoy the journey—leadership is as much about personal growth as it is about professional achievement.