Ginni Rometty, also known as Virginia Marie Rometty, is a renowned leader in the business world. She has held various high-level positions at IBM such as President, CEO and Executive Chairman. During her time at IBM, she played a crucial role in the company’s shift from hardware and software to data and consulting.
Despite her success, Rometty comes from humble beginnings. Her father left her family when she was just a teenager, leaving her mother to support their family on her own. In “Good Power: Leading Positive Change in Our Lives Work and World,” Rometty shares personal stories about growing up with limited resources but emphasizes that she does not want pity or sympathy for what she went through.
During an interview with Walker & Dunlop Chairman and CEO Willy Walker on September 20th 2023 for the Walker Webcast series ,Rometty stated that people should take away one important lesson from her story – only you can define who you are.
Another valuable lesson learned during Rometty’s rise to success is that growth often requires stepping out of your comfort zone. She shared an experience where she was offered a promotion at IBM but initially hesitated due to fear of straying away from what was familiar to her. However,Romety realized that growth cannot happen without taking risks,and it is essentialto associate discomfort with learning opportunities rather than seeing it as something negative.
Furthermore,Romety believes accessand aptitude are two different things.She acknowledgesthat many talented individuals do not have equal opportunities because they lack certain credentials like college degrees.However,she advocatesfor skills-based hiring through initiatives like SkillsFirstand OneTen.These organizations aimto provide job opportunities for underrepresented groups who may not have traditional qualifications,but possess valuable skills nonetheless.Romety herself co-chairs OneTen which focuses on creating more diversity within companies by hiring based on skill sets rather than solely relyingon degrees.
In conclusion, Ginni Rometty’s career journey and her belief in a “skills-first” philosophy serves as an inspiration to many. Through hard work, determination,and embracing discomfort for the sake of growth,she has achieved great success and continues to advocate for equal opportunities in the business world.
