Career Rocket Episode #14: Valinda Kennedy
Long time IBM leader and lifelong learner
“Every time you say ‘no’ you put a stake in the ground and leave potential opportunities behind.”
The goal of Career Rocket is to make an impact on people’s careers by sharing wisdom and advice from successful professionals. You can listen to the recording on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
Target audience for this episode: aspiring professionals from all walks of life.
Today’s guest: Valinda Kennedy, who was strongly encouraged by Sue Hallen to be a guest on Career Rocket. Valinda grew up in a small town in West Virginia with little money. Today she is a badass leader at IBM. She has a fascinating journey and it really is not surprising she has become so successful. Besides reading this post, I strongly encourage listening to the podcast. Valinda has such a genuine passion for learning and that can only be fully embraced by listening to her enthusiasm.
Professional background and highlights
33 years at IBM
Started out as a Computer Systems Engineer
Financial Services Sector Business Development
Global University Skills Program Manager
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) Strategist
How many people have you managed (includes direct reports and their teams) over your career? Too many to estimate.
For each career stage, please share the most important characteristics to have in the field of marketing.
Entry level: 1-3 years
Top characteristic: Curiosity. Wanting to learn, understand, explore, not putting the stakes in the ground, asking questions
Tip: Curiosity will help you get out of your comfort zone
Mid-career: 4-8 years
Top characteristic: People skill. Figure out how to get other people to work with you and for you. Learn to engage in your ecosystem and get people to see you as collaborative member of the team.
Tip: Read ‘Leadership and Self Deception’ which is an excellent book to raise your emotional intelligence
Tip: Observe people who you like working with and figure out what you like about them and replicate those characteristics
Mgr/Directors
Top characteristic: Making sure there’s clear line of sight for objectives. As leaders, we need to be very clear on metrics of success and goals. This is a fundamental leadership characteristic.
Looking back, please share what you feel have been your biggest drivers to a successful career?
Strong foundation. My amazing parents gave me clear direction in the importance of education, respect, and hard work.
Education at West Virginia University.
People I have met. People who have given me advice, feedback, and pushed me to propel.
If there was one thing you would like to tell someone earlier on in their career that you wish someone had told you, what would it be?
Take risks. As you build your career, you need to keep trying different opportunities and enjoy the ride.
Looking ahead, where do you think are the upcoming hot spots in careers around your discipline?
Data science will continue to have exponential growth
Cyber security. Over 1.8 million cyber security positions are unfilled today
Robotics. Who doesn’t want a robot greeting you now in the hotel lobby in the time of COVID?
What are the interesting challenges you anticipate will be coming up in your discipline in the coming years?
Addressing the digital divide - 43% of African-American households do not have a laptop or desktop. This puts people at huge disadvantages around education, remote basic medical services, etc. You can help by becoming part of the World Community Grid.
Do you have anything in particular you would like to tell future women leaders?
Keep going. There are hurdles that exist. The risk you continue to keep taking can have potential phenomenal rewards.
Tip: build yourself a board of directors. Diverse set of people who will give you advice and council. Not just friends who will tell you what you want to hear.
How do you keep yourself fresh and bring out your best?
Run three miles a day. When your mind is alert and want to learn
Read lots of books and learn
Stay away from negative people, influencers, and conversations
Not only do you have a successful professional career, you seem to be genuinely grounded and happy. What does living abundantly mean to you and how have you carried it out?
Looking ten, twenty, and thirty years from now and making progress towards that goal
Taking different roads and finding that exciting
Looking back at your milestones and feeling good at what you have been able to achieve with others and yourself
Being a little girl from a tiny school from West Virginia and rise up in a company like IBM
If you want to hear the in-depth dialogue of this post, check out the full conversation on the Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
Check out our full list of Career Rocket guests here