More From Judy
What fascinates you most about technology today?
"The whole concept of user-generated content is astounding. About a year ago my husband had me watch a video on YouTube of a 16- year-old boy playing the ukulele--he was incredible. What amazed me was that this boy, sitting in a park somewhere, has now been seen by over 2 million people. Now they all know how fabulous he is. That is incredibly interesting to me."
What technological advances can we expect in the next 5 years?
"What's coming is that almost any device that you can think of will have an IP address and can be thought of as a wireless device: your refrigerator, garage door, car, etc. Once all those devices can be controlled wirelessly, just think about all the things you can do."
Trust Yourself
April 2009
Judy Spitz
Senior VP and CIO
Verizon Business
"I don't have a romantic story to tell about a passion that's been mine since I was a little girl," says Judy on how she got to be one of the top women in the technology field--and named to CIO Magazine's "Ones to Watch" list. "I certainly didn't grow up thinking I was going to be a career woman with a big job."
She assumed she'd be an elementary school teacher, but in college it became obvious that it wasn't the right fit. Speech and hearing sciences sounded interesting, and it was part of the education department, so it was an easy switch. As it turned out, Judy had a knack for science and research. Without worrying where it would lead, she went on to earn a master's degree and a PhD. "If I questioned it, I don't know if I would be here," she says. "You can't over-think what you like. You know it when you see it, and you keep going in that direction."
Judy joined the research and development group at Verizon 21 years ago as an alternative to working in academia on research projects that were funded by government grants (so-called "soft money"). She's learned on the job about the corporate world and technology. Throughout her journey, hard work and the ability to communicate effectively and compassionately has helped her succeed.
It's been a constant challenge finding enough time for her husband, twin girls (who are now in college), and her job. "When I'm at work, I try to make sure I'm doing the absolute best job that I can--kids or no kids. When I'm at home, I try to make sure I'm being the best wife and mother I can be--job or no job. I trust my instinct in judging when I have to draw the line and say, 'I need to go home now.' The company won't collapse if I'm at a soccer game or if I choose not to go on a trip."
Judy's Tips for Leading
Don't underestimate your strengths.
"[Success] is less about formula and more about learning what to value in yourself. In the real world, the soft skills that you don't read about in text books turn out to be some of the most important ones. For example, the ability to stand up in front of groups and to explain something in a compelling way is one of the most important skills in the corporate world."
Lead from the middle.
"One of the greatest things anyone's said about me is: 'There are some leaders that guide their team up a hill from the front of the pack. Then there are some who push from behind. And then there are the leaders, like Judy, who push from the middle.' It's about having respect for what everyone is able to contribute, without being intimidated by others' strengths. I think women are good at this."
Trust your instincts.
"In managing people, if something doesn't seem right, it probably isn't. It took me a while to learn that sometimes you just have to act on your instincts instead of stalling. That's part of growing up--suddenly you look around and realize you're the most senior person around and must handle the situation."
Help, don't criticize.
"I sit down and have a talk with a difficult person. I say 'Let me tell you what I see happening when you behave like this.' And, do it with a hug--you're trying to help them be better at what they do. Women do this well."
If you'd like to ask Judy a question, send it to Helene [at] womenworking [dot] com, and we'll see if we can get you an answer.