Life at GE : Careers : GE

What are the best aspects of your current job?

Global Projects Operation (GPO), which is a business within GE Power & Water, is responsible for designing and executing projects for GE Energy technologies across the world. My team and I have partnered with the GPO group to standardize and simplify processes in the Thermal segment. We executed 13 Lean Action WorkOuts from March through July 2011 with nearly 500 participants and approximately 12,000 hours of process mapping and future state discussions. As a next step, over the next two years, our team will deploy enterprise tools, such as Oracle ERP, Primavera P6 and Enovia PLM, to drive business process excellence. I enjoy the challenges this presents, the process focus, and the great partnership we have built with the functional team.

I am also an ITLP Lead Recruiter for Penn State, my alma mater. I really enjoy this aspect of my job. Especially establishing long-term relationships with current students and faculty, interviewing talented candidates, and helping them successfully make the transition to GE.

What are the best things about working at GE?

The opportunities to learn and grow your career, as well as the people you work with along the way. Across every GE business and location, I have found a creative, inclusive environment where people are open to ideas and willing to work with you. I have never found a single person who is unwilling to explain a concept, answer a question, or offer advice. This environment has helped me tremendously, and, in turn, it motivates me to help others succeed. This environment also transcends national borders. GE's global environment has given me cultural perspective and appreciation. I believe working with a global team on a daily basis is a key driver to being able to succeed in the 21st century, and GE has provided this opportunity.

How did your background/previous work experience prepare you for your current role?

Every position I have held in GE, in its own unique way, has helped prepare for my current role.

College: My first exposure to GE was the summer after my freshman year. I joined a local computer company in Albany. But, as luck would have it, I spent the summer installing computers for engineers on the GE Energy Schenectady campus as a contractor. Based on the contacts I made that summer, and with some persistence, I landed a summer internship coding web portals in Schenectady after my sophomore year. I translated this opportunity into an 8-month co-op in California for the newly acquired Wind business and eventually into a full-time ITLP position. The technical aspects of these college jobs helped me establish a strong foundation.

ITLP: An entirely new set of doors opened. I learned first-hand the tools and challenges for deploying ERP programs on a SAP rotation in Minden, Nevada and an Oracle rotation in Atlanta, Georgia. I learned about global operations, as well as recognizing and adapting to cultural barriers during a rotation with Energy Services in Florence, Italy.

IT Corporate Audit Staff (CAS): This was a tremendous personal and professional growth opportunity, as I had assignments across GE businesses in the U.S. and Europe. I learned about business operations in different segments, how to understand and speak "the language of the business" (which is finance), how to craft and deliver a message, and how to effectively track a large-scale system implementation.

Project Fusion (Wind Americas ERP): As a track lead, this was my first opportunity to participate in a large-scale system implementation from start to finish. In this role, I learned the importance of making longer term strategic decisions and establishing a strong partnership with the business. I also learned how to effectively plan and manage a program, including managing a budget and vendor team.

What is the most challenging project you've worked on at GE?

My current project is my most challenging assignment to date. We are simplifying from 90 to 60 core business processes, streamlining processes across the U.S. and Europe, and, in many cases, replacing processes and tools that have been in place for 20-plus years. This is a fundamental business change with no black-and-white solution. Therefore, focus on CAP and functional leadership is critical. There is heavy focus on executing 100 percent on-time and on-budget, which requires dedicating time to strategic project decisions as well as execution.

What are the top technical skills that you take pride in possessing and/or still draw upon for your job?

I became interested in computers at a very young age, in particular hardware and software. I became an expert in the earlier Windows and Macintosh operating systems, and was the de-facto IT support person for my high school faculty. In college, I worked at a computer helpdesk, providing computer troubleshooting, hardware and software upgrades and virus removal. I also set up PCs and computer networks for a few local schools and churches.

This experience still helps today. Understanding these fundamentals helps in translating technical requirements and specifications. It allows me to liaison between the functional and technical teams and to understand how end-users think. Finally, it helps me perform on-the-fly troubleshooting from testing to post go-live.

What is the best piece of career advice you can offer IT folks embarking on a technical career at GE?

Be a lifelong learner. Be curious, open and enthusiastic to opportunities as they present themselves. Do not say "no" to opportunities, even if they do not sound especially appealing at first. Specifically target areas outside of your comfort zone, and put in the extra effort to learn these. Become close with your business partners. If you are working in the same location, try to co-locate or meet face-to-face when possible. If you focus on learning the business process and enhancing your technical skills at the same time, it will set you up for success.