Life at GE : Careers : GE

What are the best aspects of your current job?

The best part of my current role is that I could never get bored. I am challenged with leading a transition from one internal IT support organization to another. This means everything in my work environment - from the technology, processes, tools, and people - can change. I am tasked with collaborating with other IT professionals on a daily basis. There is no shortage of stones to turn over and never a day when you can get too comfortable. There are always challenges and opportunities to learn.

What are the best parts about working at GE?

GE will allow you to determine your destiny, create opportunities for career advancement and excellence and pursue them.

I started at GE in the Information Technology Leadership Program (ITLP). This was an instant introduction to what GE offers you. Working through a series of six-month assignments gave me broad exposure to different areas of the business, technologies and functions. During one assignment in Hungary, I developed a sourcing application that would be used in a green-field manufacturing site: a pretty heady opportunity for a fresh college grad. The opportunities didn't end at the conclusion of the ITLP program: they continued and grew in impact and responsibility.

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

I was hired into GE out of college, so my previous work experience was limited to a couple of internships. Throughout my time in GE, I have focused on a variety of business challenges, functional areas and technologies. As a result, I have much more breadth than depth within IT. This means that I went into each of my past roles leading teams in which the individuals had more domain expertise than I did. That environment taught me how to value my team, understand how best to motivate and direct them, and how to foster collaborative relationships for optimal results. These roles all helped me to be comfortable in a situation where I was coming in blind, learning how and when to step in and drive things and how to work in uncertain circumstances.

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

The project that left the most lasting impression on me was one of the first large programs I led: the initial release of the indirect purchasing system for GE Energy. The goal of the system was to create total visibility to indirect spending and then to reduce total spend through use of negotiated rates.

The challenge was in creating an application that met the needs of four different P&Ls, each with unique requirements and ways of doing business. My solution was a flexible, customizable application to accommodate these differences. At the time, I had thought I did something great in providing a flexibility of design that met the individual P&L's needs. It was only after transitioning into a new role did I understand that the flexibility was nice, but from a high-level business standpoint, that flexibility equaled significant maintenance and limited the ability to define simplified global processes. In this case, flexibility did not translate into simplification. I learned that simplification is an important aspect and goal for every application.

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

GE is known for having the very best people and with the best people comes a great amount of experience and expertise. Although not technical, the skill that I draw upon most frequently is the ability to develop relationships and collaborate with individuals of varying backgrounds and expertise to produce the best solution, design or decision possible. I never hesitate to reach out to ask for help, ask the clarifying or "stupid" questions, and consult with others.

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

Career opportunities are what you make of them. You can create as many opportunities as you want. Take advantage of each learning opportunity as they are presented to you. Enjoy your work, love it, and soak it up!