Destination Distinguished Engineer / IBM Fellow
TWP – Technology Woman Program
April 17, 2012
IBM Learning Center
Armonk, NY
April 17, 2013
© 2011 IBM Corporation
Purpose: To describe and explore…
 IBM’s Technical Career Structure
 Skills and contribution needed to achieve DE
 The portfolio of skills you need to build
 The depth, breadth and leadership skills you need to demonstrate
 The specific technical skills and examples you need to develop for
your DE journey
 Tips to help with your Roadmap
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© 2013 IBM Corporation
IBM’s Technical Career Structure
Executive Positions
Corporate approval
IBM Fellow
Distinguished Engineers
Employee Positions
Consulting Supply
Chain Mgmt Prof
Executive/Certified
Architect
Senior Certified
Senior Certified
Senior Technical
Staff Member
Band 9-10
Management Nomination
Research
Staff
Members
(not banded)
Senior
Band 7-8
Advisory
Advisory
Advisory
Band 6
Specialist
Entry/Staff
Entry/Staff
Professions
Supply Chain
Mgmt Prof
IT Specialist
IT Architect
IT Consultant*
Engineers/Programmers
Technical Services
NOTE: Client-facing DE’s would typically have experience in client-facing roles, including but not limited
to jobs such as Client Technical Advisor, IT Architect, Consultant or STSM roles.
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*Note:
• Band 10 - Executive Consultants, Associate Partners and Associate Practice Leaders
• Band 9 - Senior Managing Consultants
• Band 8 - Managing Consultants
Review the Career Guide for additional job tiles by band
© 2013 IBM Corporation
Becoming a DE means: Increasing Skill and Contribution
Technical Skills
Recognize (or create)
fundamental shifts in
technology, market or approach
Understand gaps and unfulfilled
client needs
4
Level of Contribution
4. Can propose, persuade and lead
through periods of change
3. Can develop insights into
future opportunities
Know what we have today, where
it fits and how it is used
2. Can brief others on current
technology (at multiple levels of
detail)
Understand basic vocabulary and
facts
1.Can follow the discussions and
assist someone when required
April 17, 2013
© 2013 IBM Corporation
Becoming a DE means:
Building a portfolio of :
 Technical contributions
 Professional activities
 Intellectual capital/reusable assets
 References
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© 2013 IBM Corporation
How to:

Gain skills

Become a contributor

Gain Visibility

Build a portfolio
DE
BUSINESS
BREADTH
LEADERSHIP
EXPERTISE
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© 2013 IBM Corporation
Thriving as a DE
Breadth and leadership
always growing
A DE fills a business need
DE
BUSINESS
BREADTH
Continually expand
and deepen expertise
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LEADERSHIP
EXPERTISE
© 2013 IBM Corporation
Build a solid base of technical expertise
 Deep technical skill and knowledge
– Demonstrated by specific accomplishments, a history of sustained contribution
• Innovation: Describe the novelty of contributions
• Collaboration: Describe how contributions fit into a larger solution, how they were
able to be applied to another product or project
 Appropriately communicated
– Peers and colleagues
• Awareness of contributions, influence other projects
• Build network of other technical experts who can be called upon and will return the
trust
• Shares expertise with others to strengthen IBM
– Technical and business leaders
• Organization and discipline familiarity with accomplishments
• Build a network of senior people who will recommend and support
EXPERTISE
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© 2013 IBM Corporation
Demonstrate Technical Leadership
 Become a known expert
– Compelling domain of expertise
– Remain relevant
– Capabilities and accomplishments are
common knowledge among technical and
business leaders
– Scope of influence is beyond immediate team
Leadership is not something
given to an individual, it’s
something demonstrated by the
individual
LEADERSHIP
• Called upon
• Recognized as an industry expert
who are the Leaders?
 Assume leadership responsibilities
– Drive the adoption of new technology
4
35
– Be an innovator, thought leader, change agent
76
52
– Be a role model
36
19
– Identify gaps and opportunities
39
– Build a network
EXPERTISE 61
• technical experts
• business and technical leaders
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58
50
44
53
37
41
13
57
73
31
26
64
10
59
14
66
68
78
74
81
71
40
15
90
65
21
48
72
75
16
51
38
80
69
45
62
17
9
29
77
24
17
3
67
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© 2013 IBM Corporation
Demonstrate Technical Breadth
 Contribute beyond normal responsibilities
– Publications demonstrate ability to communicate leadership to industry, clients, colleagues
– Patents and disclosures demonstrate technical innovation and creativity
– Active participation in corporate or cross-functional task forces, academy studies, etc.
demonstrates valued IBM expertise
BREADTH
LEADERSHIP
– Active participation in standard bodies, technical professional organizations, conferences and
workshops, industry technical certification, etc. demonstrates recognition as industry expert
– Active participation with area schools and organizations, university relations as a technical
consultant demonstrates community leadership
 Demonstrate Business Acumen
– A solid understanding of market, client and
business applications of technical plans and
new ideas
EXPERTISE
• Build trusting, long-lasting client
relationships
• Understand the market and competitive
landscape
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© 2013 IBM Corporation
Demonstrate business acumen
 Solid understanding of market, client, and business needs
– Trusting, long-lasting client relationships
– Awareness of market and competitive landscape
BUSINESS
BREADTH
LEADERSHIP
 Applied to create value for IBM and its clients
– Informed by the ‘bigger picture’:
• Overall scope or goals of project
• Divisional/organizational strategy and mission
– Address client pain points, fulfill client needs
 Appropriately communicated – with clarity, conviction, and integrity
– IBM Executives
EXPERTISE
• Convey technical understanding
at business executive level
• Becomes a trusted resource
– Customers
• Represent IBM and IBM’s solutions to customers
• Become a trusted advisor to customers
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© 2013 IBM Corporation
DE “POTENTIAL” -ASK YOURSELF
 Are you considered a technical expert?
 Are you visible?
 Are you respected?
 Do you have executive presence?
 Do you exhibit a pattern of sharing and reuse?
 Are you a role model?
 Are you a ‘significant’ mentor?
 Do you have significant and long lasting
contributions – technical and business?
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© 2013 IBM Corporation
Ways to Gain Additional Recognition
 Participate in cross line of business activities
 Consider Global Opportunities – Short term rotations
 Include Distinguished Engineers in engagement reviews
 Leverage Research, Software Group, Server Group to deliver
client value
 Become known by Client Executives
 Publish Point of View or article related to expertise
 Corporate Awards or External Honors
 Become known to your Executives
 Speak at an external event
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© 2013 IBM Corporation
Self-Assessment Tools
.. what am I doing RIGHT NOW consistent with building my technical
and leadership skills?
 I am known for [2-4 things]. By this time next year, I plan to be known for [1-2 more
things]
 My current project is challenging me in the following [1-3 ways]
 New stuff I’ve learned in the last 90 days includes [1-3 things]
 Important new additions to my network in the last 90 days include [2-4 names]
 My public –local/regional/national/global-”visibility program” consists of [1-2 things]
 My principal “resume enhancement activity” for the next 90 days is [1 item]
 My resume is discernibly different from last year’s on this date in the following [1-2
ways]
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© 2013 IBM Corporation
Thriving as a DE
A DE fills a business need
Breadth and leadership
always growing
DE
BREADTH
Continually expand
and deepen expertise
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April 17, 2013
BUSINESS
LEADERSHIP
EXPERTISE
Shares knowledge to
strengthen IBM
© 2013 IBM Corporation
Tip: Don’t be afraid to operate outside your comfort zone
Danger Zone
Risk Zone
Stretch Zone
Comfort Zone
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 Danger Zone
– Don’t go there!
– Learn to know if you are there!
– ..then know how to get back into a
safer zone
 Risk Zone
– You need the right equipment to
operate here
 Stretch Zone
– Aim to be here the majority of the
time
 Comfort Zone
– Challenge yourself!
– Get out of there!
© 2013 IBM Corporation
Tip: Don’t be afraid to operate outside your comfort zone
Tip: Build your network
Business leaders
Other DEs and technical leaders
Up and coming talent
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© 2013 IBM Corporation
Tip: Don’t be afraid to operate outside your comfort zone
Planning for DE: It’s never to early to begin your preparation !
Technical Accomplishments
What you’ve accomplished, its impact for clients
and for IBM, how you communicate to your
peers and leaders what you’ve done
Professional Contributions
What you’ve contributed to IBM’s and external
technical communities, IBM cross-organization
accomplishment, how you’ve been a mentor
and role model
Intellectual Capital/Reusable Assets
What you’ve contributed to technical literature
within IBM and externally, patents and other
innovation, assets that can be reused
References
The technical and business leaders who know
and appreciate your contributions and
accomplishments, who call upon your expertise
Year 1
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Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
© 2013 IBM Corporation
Distinguished Engineer – Sheila Harnett
Senior Technical Staff Member Path
“Set a career goal early – aim high. Communicate your goal & objectives. Pursue
mentor(s) in the field to which you aspire. Stay current in industry and technology
trends. Build trust & confidence in your leadership by delivering on commitments.
Growth often requires stretching beyond your comfort zone, so start warming up.”
What makes my career special?
Joined IBM
1992
Job Role(s) in Career
 Staff Programmer
 Senior Technical Staff Member
 Distinguished Engineer
Location
Austin, Texas
Follow me
LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=1678
0615
Over my 20+ year career, I have worked in SWG, STG and, now, GTS. This has given me a
broad perspective of all of IBM’s businesses, and how important it is for all of us to partner for the
benefit of our clients. One of the most unique and rewarding experiences was leading IBM’s Linux
development team, which transformed IBM into a valued, contributing member of the Open Source
Software Linux development community. It taught me to anticipate & embrace change; doing so
can help position IBM for industry leadership.
How do I add value to my clients?
I add value to IBM’s Service Delivery clients by defining and building reusable reference architectures
for managed server infrastructure. This allows IBM to provide the best managed server service to
our clients, introducing and leveraging automation to deliver innovative server management
solutions. Providing a superior IT-management service to clients at a competitive cost allows clients
to invest in strategic initiatives that add incremental value to their business.
What makes my job essential?
As a Distinguished Engineer, I am a trusted technical advisor to my clients,
as well as to my organization’s executives. I must be able to meld
technical requirements with business objectives to recommend the
best technical solution or path forward for the problem at hand. To
prepare yourself for such a role, seek out a variety of technical
leadership roles that expose you to different technologies. Study the
competition and industry trends. A strong network is an invaluable
source of information and opportunities. Build a network of people
across all divisions, and strive to become a valuable member of other
people’s networks.
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Highlights of my career to date:
2010 – Present. GTS, Service Delivery, Virtualization & Distributed Server
Management SSA Leader, DE
2001 – Distinguished Engineer, STG, Software Architecture & Strategy
1999 - STG, Chief Architect for IBM Linux Technology Center
1997 – Senior Technical Staff Member, SWG (PSP), Chief Architect, JavaOS
1992 – Joined IBM, SWG (PSP), OS/2 Workplace Shell Dev, Staff Programmer
Degree Attained:
1992 Ph.D Computer Science, University of Louisiana – Lafayette
1988 M.S. Computer Science, University of Louisiana - Lafayette
1987 B.S. Computer Science, Central Washington University
© 2013 IBM Corporation
Senior Technical Staff Member Path
Distinguished Engineer – Susan Schreitmueller
Highlight quote
“Whether you think you can or whether you think you cannot – you are usually
right.” Henry Ford
What makes my career special?
Joined IBM
1976
Job Role(s) in Career
 S&D (Advanced Technical Support),
STG Austin Power System
Development,
 Client Care, CEEMEA – CTO,
 Technical Director ATS – MENA, WW
Chief Client Advocate Storage
Location
Dallas, Texas, USA
Follow me
RovrAllOvr on twitter and Linked In
I got my start in the military. I think this experience uniquely qualifies me with a ‘can-do’ attitude. Nothing like
having 20 year old equipment – erecting a control tower in the middle of nowhere and having 20 airplanes
needing to land! I take the Apollo 13 approach – this is what we’ve got in the ship so how are we going to
make it work. When I started in IT my ultimate goal was to work for IBM. I started as a B-9 and saw a
promotion announcement to DE for a colleague. I immediately saw the influence and ability to make a
difference and said – what is that and how do I become one?
How do I add value to my clients?
I try very hard to look at each client’s challenges from their viewpoint. I don’t condone ‘us against them’ . I
don’t sell hardware and software – I define and promote solutions to business problems. Speeds and
feeds are not as important as a solution that works, every time – ALL the time. Business continuity,
serviceability and availability are key as well. When a client has an outage - I take it personally. I also
believe that as a DE there is no ‘they’ – no calvary... it is up to me to own and drive solutions to obstacles
and to create a climate of positive change and improvement.
Highlights of my career to date:
Appointment to Distinguished Engineer
CTO of CEEMEA and Director of Technical Services MENA
Appointment to Academy
Appointment to Academy Leadership Team.
Degree obtained:
University of South Florida Bachelors Information Technology
Jones University Bachelor Business Administration
NOVA University - post Graduate work
AMEDA College – Master Information Technology
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© 2013 IBM Corporation