Ginni Rometty, Chairman, President & CEO of IBM | MAKERS

Summary

The speaker shares insights on personal growth, leadership, and resilience, emphasizing that growth requires embracing discomfort. Raised in Chicago, she reflects on her journey of overcoming adversity, including family hardships, and stresses the importance of defining oneself. As the first female CEO of IBM, she highlights the need for role models and advocates for inclusion, particularly for women in the workplace. She underscores the importance of values, persistence, and maintaining boundaries to achieve balance in life and success in leadership. Her message is one of determination, conviction, and responsibility.

Takeaways

• 🌱 Growth and comfort never coexist; true growth involves getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.
• 🏀 The speaker was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and was always a caretaker for her siblings while excelling in school and extracurriculars.
• 💡 She was passionate about math and believed in understanding the origins of things, also enjoying leadership roles such as being student council president.
• 🍽️ Her family experienced financial hardship, relying on food stamps, but her mother was determined to overcome this and inspire resilience.
• 👤 One of her most significant life lessons was learning not to let anyone else define who you are; only you define yourself.
• 💼 Early in her career, she hesitated to take a promotion, but her husband made her realize that she should seize opportunities with confidence.
• 👩‍💼 Becoming the first female CEO of IBM was a defining moment, but she didn't want to be defined solely by her gender, instead focusing on being a great leader.
• 🔍 She emphasizes the importance of role models, especially for women, as representation helps others aspire to leadership roles.
• 📊 Data will be the defining issue of our time, and managing it carefully will allow us to solve complex global problems, hence her company's focus on AI and cloud technologies.
• 💪 Advancing women in the workplace requires inclusion, setting boundaries for work-life balance, and leading by example through lived values rather than just words.

Q & A

What is the main message of the speaker regarding growth and comfort?

The speaker emphasizes that growth and comfort never coexist. To grow as a person and a leader, one must become comfortable with being uncomfortable, embracing challenges and risks to emerge better on the other side.

How did the speaker’s early life shape their leadership qualities?

The speaker grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and often took on the role of 'mother hen' to their siblings. This sense of responsibility and care for others helped shape their leadership qualities from a young age.

What role did education and extracurricular activities play in the speaker's early development?

The speaker loved school, particularly excelling in math, and enjoyed activities like basketball, volleyball, and student council. These experiences fostered their love for learning and their leadership abilities.

How did the speaker’s family situation change, and how did they respond?

The family went on food stamps after a challenging time, but the speaker’s mother was determined not to let this be the end of their story. She went back to school, improved her career, and the speaker learned the importance of not letting others define who you are.

How did the speaker's experience in school affect their perspective on personal success?

The speaker came from a background with no financial support, yet they attended a great school. This experience reinforced their belief that where there is a will, there is a way to succeed.

What was the pivotal moment in the speaker’s career when they were offered a promotion?

The speaker initially declined a promotion, thinking they weren’t ready. However, their husband pointed out that a man likely wouldn’t have reacted that way, prompting the speaker to accept the job the next day.

How does the speaker view their role as CEO of IBM?

The speaker expressed that they did not want to be defined as the first woman CEO of IBM, but rather just a good CEO. However, they recognize the importance of being a role model for others.

Why does the speaker believe data is a critical issue in this era?

The speaker believes data will be the defining issue of our time and that, when handled with care, it has the potential to solve some of the world's most intractable problems.

What advice does the speaker give regarding boundaries in the workplace?

The speaker advises that companies will take as much as you give, so it’s important to set boundaries. Establishing these boundaries ensures a balance, and most things will adapt around them.

What does the speaker believe is necessary for advancing women in the workplace?

The speaker believes that advancing women in the workplace requires inclusion, continuity, and persistence. It’s not about a single moment but about creating an ongoing environment that supports women's growth.