On the lighter side of things , we ask the industry experts what makes them tick . . . .

I had the opportunity to move my family to Puerto Rico ( twice ), China and to Ireland as a part of my career assignments . These opportunities provided some of the most challenging , but also most rewarding experiences .

For instance , I led the team that constructed and started a manufacturing plant in China that held a safety performance record with over five million hours without serious injury . I led a site engineering leadership team for an insulin manufacturing facility in Puerto Rico and supported and led many other operations and projects across the US and in Ireland .

These experiences helped shape who I am as a professional and how I approach leadership in a nonnative country . No matter the place , everyone has similar experiences , problems and dreams . I prioritize cultural integration and localization . It ’ s not about coming in and taking over , but instead being humble in your approach to helping .

What first made you think of a career in technology ?

Technology as a whole is a fast-growing industry – changing the world we live in constantly . It ' s also a very exciting career path , brimming with opportunities for growth – and for me , it has been a fascinating and

fulfilling one . I chose a career that I felt would help people and improve human experiences . For these reasons , I pursued a career in this field , and have not looked back since .

What style of management philosophy do you employ with your current position ?

The understanding that people are important was instilled in me early on and is still at the core of my focus today . I live and lead in a manner that displays respect and understanding and I aim to amplify the best in people .

Consider Stephen Covey ’ s Habit # 5 in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is ‘ Seek First to Understand , Then to Be Understood .’ This habit strikes at influencing others by developing a deep understanding of their needs and perspectives first .

Humans have a lot of commonalities – we ' re basically the same , and where we differ adds value and diversity of thoughts and ideas . By first knowing more about the people you work with , you can inspire them to achieve by having fun while you ’ re doing something hard .

Encouraging people to stretch , to reach and to aim high for their goals is deeply connected to my own personal brand belief .

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