I just finished former IBM CEO Ginni Rometti’s new book, Good Power, that came out Wednesday on International Women's Day. It's an absolute must read for any leader. I also found it a fascinating read because I’ve been involved in several initiatives she’s led during her tenure at the helm of IBM.
Ginni’s Vision
I first encountered Ginni when she visited our Toronto team on the second day on the job as CEO in January 2012. I was so impressed with her vision for the company on many fronts but including her focus on improving the world with artificial intelligence. I was leading design for Watson at the time, in addition to my companywide role. I was particularly delighted with the importance she placed on client experience and design. A key message in her talk was that the client experience would be a major focus of her tenure as CEO. I was thrilled.
Right after the talk, I sent an email to the then software SVP Robert LeBlanc saying that this was our opportunity to rightsize and integrate design into the company. Further meetings with him and my colleague Sal Vella fleshed out our recommendations regarding staffing and adopting Phil Gilbert’s design approach. Robert then had meetings with Ginni and Phil and that launched our design transformation of the company. Phil and Ginni are both big picture visionaries and their collaboration was magical in driving our design transformation. We have them to thank for the design and research population we now have at IBM and the impact that they’re having on our products and services. (See my Personal Tribute to Phil Gilbert for further details).
Our Studio
My next interaction with Ginni was on the day we officially opened our new design studio in Austin, Texas, in November, 2013. While walking with her on a tour of the studio on that day she commented that she thought all of IBM's workspaces should be like our studio to encourage collaboration. I enthusiastically agreed.
And then I noticed that she was looking at what I was wearing and she asked me, "do designers get dressed up by simply putting on a jacket while still just wearing their jeans?" I said yes, and explained that designers were in fact different in many ways and that the other disciplines could benefit from adopting a designerly way of thinking and working. That of course was a reference to our design thinking framework that she was already well aware of and which I was evangelizing that year by visiting each of our development labs globally and holding town halls, executive meetings, and roundtables ushering in the new era of design at IBM.
Her Leadership
The title of Ginni’s book, “Good Power: Leading Positive Change in our Lives, Work, and World” couldn’t be a better way of capturing her leadership style, what she’s accomplished, and what change she’s continuing to make in the world.
I was invigorated every time I listened to one of her all employee broadcasts. She was always upbeat, engaging, authentic, speaking from the heart, without slides, and no matter what the substance of the call, I always felt inspired, empowered, and proud of the company I worked for.
Ginni reluctantly accepted the fact that she is a role model, initially insisting that she was a leader who happened to be a woman too. I think she’s an awesome role model for women, but also for men to learn to work with powerful women. We have such a long way to go in this regard but Ginni is a phenomenal example to lead the way.
She also never put on airs as the CEO. I observed her touring our design demos in the building our team designed for the SXSW conference in March of 2017. She spoke to each of our designers as an equal, sincerely interested in the demo they were showing and in them as a person. She exuded positivity, curiosity, and trust.
The Book
The book is a very personal account of her early years and how the challenges she and her family faced influenced her to become the amazing leader that she is. I was honestly shocked at what she had to endure so early in her life but it also explains her drive, her work ethic, her focus on skills, her intellect, and her approach to doing good in the world.
The book is divided into three parts: The Power of Me, dealing with changing a life, The Power of We, dealing with changing work, and The Power of Us, focused on changing the world. I have tried to cultivate and hone my own leadership style and attributes along similar lines to what Ginni outlines. Her key themes of being in service of, building belief, knowing what needs to change and what must endure, being a good steward of good tech, being resilient, envisioning a better future, and creating a movement all spoke to me personally.
I love that she acknowledged the individuals who influenced her, taught her lessons, and with whom she collaborated. It was great that she called out Phil for his contributions to changing the way IBM works led by design and design thinking.
Every CEO brings their own style, perspective, and priorities to the role. I believe that Ginni was the perfect CEO for IBM during the period she led the company.
I believe the world needs more leaders like Ginni, using their power for good in companies, academia, and governments. Of course the world still needs Ginni herself too doing everything she’s doing today.
It’s also just like Ginni to make a PDF or ePub version of her book available for free to all managers at IBM.
Thank you, Ginni. We appreciate you! Keep changing the world.