Voice of Experience: ML Krakauer, SVP, Technology Solutions and Services, EMC
By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)
“One of the things I would encourage is to move broadly. Get as many cross functional experiences as possible – gain multiple lenses to approach issues,” said ML Krakauer, SVP, Technology Solutions and Services at EMC.
Throughout her career, Krakauer has filled a variety of roles: positions in the field and in corporate, as a general manager, and as a functional leader. She says, “From an experience point of view it’s one of the things I count myself very lucky around.”
“One of the things I love about all of the experiences I have had is the very broad view of issues and operations,” which, Krakauer says, has allowed her to become adept at finding multiple ways to solve problems.
After earning her BSE in Chemical Engineering from Princeton, Krakauer started working in manufacturing at Corning Glass Works. “I wanted to roll up my sleeves,” she said. Following her role at Corning, Krakauer went on to work in various roles at Digital Equipment Corporation, Compaq, and HP. She has been with EMC for the past year and a half. “I’m just thrilled to be with EMC,” she said.
“I really love what I do. One of the things I love about my career, in particular, is that I get to work with customers every day, to help solve their business problems.”
Views on the Evolving IT Industry
Krakauer says she is most excited about two developments impacting the tech industry – the cloud and the global economy.
“The huge tech shift around the cloud is an incredible opportunity for the IT industry and our customers. Helping lead the wave in the industry is an incredibly exciting and fun opportunity,” she explained.
“I have not yet met with a customer… who hasn’t gotten really excited and wanted to continue the conversation. There are not many things in my career that have been such a hugely compelling opportunity.”
“And in a different vein,” she continued, she is excited about “the whole global economy. Innovation comes from every part of the globe. We have customers around the globe. And we can find more solutions with other parts of the world. I’ve personally traveled to every part of the planet, except Antarctica, and I think the whole topic of being global is very exciting.”
Professional Achievements – Moving Broadly
Krakauer is proud of her ability to lead high-performing teams, and to work as a problem-solver. She explained, “People want to do a fantastic job. But all too often systems and processes get in the way. Being a leader is about removing barriers – these are the things that get my engine going.”
She continued, “I also feel really proud about the fact that I have had the opportunity to work with many people who wanted to follow me – to drive change. I consider that a great compliment.”
She is also a strong proponent of active career planning. She said, “Everybody needs to take ownership of their own career. Each person has to own and drive their career. Ask what kinds of experiences will prepare you for the next step.” She continued, “Make that a living document – a thought process which you are constantly refining.”
Additionally, “thinking broadly about moving outside the particular area you started in,” is very important.
Advice for “Becoming a Force in Your Company”
Krakauer credits Peter Mercury, with whom she worked at Digital, Compaq, and HP as a strong influence in her career. “He had such a great view of what makes a great leader. He’s influenced a lot of people to drive change and do good things.” She continued, “He had this list of nine principles, and he really lived them on a daily basis. They’ve become part of my philosophy as well.”
- “Do the right thing always – there’s no substitute for that, to do the right thing for your customer and your company.”
- “Common sense should always prevail.”
- “From a leadership perspective as well as an individual contributor perspective, it’s really important to lead from the front instead of pushing from behind. It makes you an incredibly impactful person.”
- “Be a great leader, care about things that are bigger than just the piece that you own. Great leaders care about the greater ecosystem.”
- “In order to drive change or be a change agent you have to do three things: create dissatisfaction with the current situation, providing and articulate your vision of the future, and outline the next few steps for getting there. I have found this to be an incredibly powerful way of approaching opportunities and challenges.”
- “Great leaders take pressure from above and translate it into challenges for their team.”
- “You make the best decisions with balanced viewpoints. I have a balance score card I implement pretty much everywhere – financial performance, operational performance, customer satisfaction, and employee satisfaction and employee enablement. It creates a much stronger operational environment.”
- “Do good things and make sure people know that you’re doing good things. It can even be a quick email. There are lots of ways to share success – and not just about yourself, but about what your team and organization are doing.”
- “Respect people always. The services business is a people business and respecting people is a foundational requirement.”
“And the last one I would add and one I’ve focused on over the years is that you need to be comfortable with power and use it for good. And maybe it sounds a little hokey, but there are lots of ways one gets influence and the ability to move things. To drive change and to drive good – this makes you a force in your company that people will want to be a part of.”
Opportunities for Women in IT
“I’ve been in the industry for many years, and there has been a huge, huge change. When I first started out I was often the only woman in the room.” She continued, “Now, while I won’t say it’s perfect, in many ways, the IT industry is one of the better places for women. It’s relatively young, and if you’re smart you can do very well.”
“I really would encourage women to get those broadening experiences, to develop a broad network. It’s very important to do a good job, but it’s also very important to have a very rich network of colleagues and mentors you can bounce ideas off and who will challenge your thinking.”
Krakauer explained that EMC offers many development and mentorship programs for women. “There’s an incredibly strong women’s leadership program. It is global with 10,000 people signed up and participating.”
She continued, “When I came to EMC, I agreed to be one of two executive sponsors of the program. I’m really impressed with the things EMC is doing and I’m looking forward to the next few years.”
The IT industry also presents challenges in terms of work/life balance. She says, “The industry is very fast paced, and there is a lot of global travel. It’s not just a women-only challenge, there are just as many men concerned about it.”
But, she says, work/life balance is possible. “Creating work/life balance is something each person has to do for themselves. It depends a lot on your career aspirations – where you are in your career, are you married with children versus a single professional,” she said. “It all changes over the course of life and career – I have one kid in college and one graduating from high school. You have to define it for yourself. Sometimes it’s more challenging – it’s about ebb and flow.”
