Each month, we ask Senior Technical Women to share their stories and what they have learned. This issue’s Senior Technical Woman Profile features Sandy Lieske, Vice President of Global Category Support, Serviceability, and Operations, HP.
1. How did you decide to pursue a career in technology?
I excelled at math and science and was encouraged to consider studying engineering in college by one of my high school math teachers. I then had an opportunity to take a computer programming class during my last year of high school. I really enjoyed the challenge and that peaked my interest further. Lastly, my father is an electrical engineer, so I had a lot of encouragement and support at home to consider engineering as a career.
2. Based on your own experience, what skill(s) or characteristic(s) do you think are most important for technical women to succeed?
Love to learn
Don’t be afraid of challenges and taking risks
Have confidence in your abilities to achieve high goals
3. What was the greatest challenge that you overcame in your career?
I worked on a project that fundamentally challenged the product development process in our business by moving our technology development into a set of teams who delivered the technologies to all product lines in the business. In addition to being extremely challenging technically, the change management was incredibly difficult in a culture that was very passive aggressive. Ultimately we recognized that the investment in creating a new culture was as important as creating a new architecture or new processes and were able to create a positive environment for our team. I am happy to say we delivered a technology platform that is still in use today, more than 10 years later.
4. How do you manage work/life balance?
First, you need to have confidence in yourself that the decisions you make about having a family and a career are the right ones for you and your family. While my daughter was young I purposefully selected jobs that did not entail much travel. I continued to have opportunities to move into new roles so did not feel like this hampered my career at all. That said, though, I put my family first and worked hard to juggle my calendar such that I could volunteer at my daughter’s school and attend most all school events. As my daughter got into high school I moved into a role that required an international re-location and lots of travel. This offered her a chance of a lifetime, as well, to live in another country and do a lot of travel. Recently in a college rhetoric class she had to choose the side of a debate on the question, “Can working women make good mothers?” I am happy to say that she took the side that debated yes they can!
5. What advice would you give to women in high tech who want to advance on the management track specifically?
Do not under-estimate the challenge of managing people. One approach is to prepare as much as you can in the fundamentals of project management such that when you have your first management position you can focus on the people first. I have noticed that as I have moved into higher level management roles that the time you spend on people and organizational health can often be greater than time managing technology. In addition, you must get comfortable with getting your results through others rather than focusing on individual achievements. This is sometimes a challenge for high achieving, hard working individuals – something most of us are.
6. How do you stay current in your technical field?
Participate in technical conferences, read as much as possible, use our products to look for opportunities to improve them.
7. In your opinion, what (if any) are the remaining barriers faced by women in technology?
Women often still remain the primary care giver when they have a family, and I believe there will continue to be a struggle with managing your career and raising your family. A big part of this struggle centers on the increased workload by virtue of always being connected. There used to be a clear separation between work and home, but that no longer exists. Although the flexibility afforded by being able to work from anyway is often very helpful, it also can set expectations with your employer that you are always accessible. You must get really good at establishing your own boundaries.
Sandy Lieske is currently the Vice President of Global Category Support, Serviceability, and Operations at HP. She is responsible for global support planning across HP’s Imaging and Printing along with the assisted global support operations. She also is responsible for a number of key IPG wide initiatives including serviceability and driving improved product quality across IPG.
Sandy joined HP in 1981 in Cupertino, California, and has held positions in manufacturing, technical marketing, R&D, and currently customer support. She has been in management positions for the last 19 years, including executive level positions for the past 11 years. Prior to her current role, Sandy was Vice President of Core Technologies for the Laserjet Enterprise and Solutions business.
Sandy received her Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering in1980 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also received a Masters Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 1984 from the University of California-Davis and a Masters Degree in Management of Technology from National Technological University in 1995.
Sandy has been very involved in championing the Technical Career Path at HP through her leadership of the IPG TCP Review Board, representing IPG on the HP Fellow Review Board, and representing IPG on the HP Program Manager Review Board. Sandy has been an active leader in supporting diversity as well. She is a member of HP’s corporate diversity advisory council, is HP’s SWE business executive, and participated in the inaugural Leader-on-the-Go forums in Asia. Sandy has one daughter in college and resides in Boise with her husband, Steve.