Fidelity CEO Abby Johnson Shares The Best Professional Motto Ever

Fidelity CEO Abby Johnson Shares The Best Professional Motto EverFidelity CEO Abby Johnson Shares The Best Professional Motto Ever Fidelity is laser-focused on innovation - And CEO Abby Johnson knows that attracting people to bring their diverse skills, experience, and perspectives to work in a culture that welcomes them for who they are is how Fidelity succeeds.Johnson takes that responsibility seriously as evidenced by the swift actions she took when claims of employee misconduct surfaced last Fall. Johnson brought in experts on culture, moved her office to sit among the portfolio teams and sent a video katechese to the entire firm reinforcing the companys zero-tolerance policy on harassment.Her response is reflective of her personal motto Always challenge the status quo and embrace change as an opportunity for improvement.Glassdoor caught up with Johnson to talk about what she looks for in job applicants, her best career advice and how she takes calculated risks as a leader.Glassdoor In addition to watching out over yur 40,000+ employees, how important is it to you to support women in the workplace? Does Fidelity have any programs in place to help women thrive in the workplace?Abby Johnson At Fidelity, we believe that diversity is a geschftliches miteinander imperative. A company that has associates with diverse hintergrunds, and experiences is in the best position to thrive.Supporting ur employees in a way that allows individuals to bring their whole selves to work each and every day is one of the most important things we can do. This includes supporting women in the workplace. Fidelity established its Womens Leadership Group (WLG) Employee Resurce Group years ago. The WLGs mission is to help women and Fidelity thrive. The groups goals are to provide development opportunities to members with a focus on developing the whole you - professional, personal and financial.Women are a critical part of the future of financial services. We want mora women to consider our industry, and Fidelity, for their careers and we are committed to providing benefits and programs to enhance our culture that will help us to develop and retain our women leaders.Examples of these benefits and programs include generous paid parental leave (16 weeks 6 weeks spousal), paid leave to care for a loved one (4 weeks), student loan repayment program and flexible work options, and backup daycare. In addition, our RESUME return-to-work internship offers an opportunity for people to accelerate their career path despite time away from the workforce. Fidelity is one of the only companies offering a program that offers this kind of path with a specific focus on licensing in the financial advisor space.Glassdoor Switching gears a bit, Fidelity is one of the most broadly diversified financial services firms in the industry. Given your insight into the economy and the labor market, what are some of the trends you are seeing as it pertains to the future of work? What are you telling your direct reports and teams to keep an eye out for?Abby Johnson We are seeing two big trends the speed of changing demographics and the speed of innovation. By 2044, there will be no ethnic majority in the U.S. and, women are surpassing their counterparts in levels of education and workforce participation. In addition, innovation is happening at a rapid pace and companies need to be constantly incubating new ideas. I want Fidelity to tap into the power of our differences by looking for associates with diverse backgrounds and experiences and ensuring that our culture welcomes them and creates an environment where everyone thrives.Glassdoor What advice do you have for your employees to navigate this new world as they think about their careers and professional development? Abby Johnson My biggest advice to friends and colleagues is to always have that hunger and intellectual curiosity to grow and learn - both personally and professionally. At Fidelity, w e encourage our associates to explore, discover, create and experience different areas of the company. With 10 regional offices, more than 190 financial planning offices and opportunities that span the globe, individuals have the freedom to map their own career route and follow their passions. I also encourage individuals to not think of a career as a succession of job titles. Instead, look at your path as a stream of experiences. Whether its learning new skills and becoming more agile in how you work, or getting involved in the communities where you work and live - and always bring your whole self to work. Bringing more vitality in all areas of your life can also benefit your career.Glassdoor As you think about the future of work, what do you look for in candidates who are applying to Fidelity? Specifically, what interview questions do you ask those who you personally interview? Abby Johnson As a customer-obsessed company, our workforce needs to be a reflection of the diverse bac kground and desires of those who choose us as their financial services provider. We need to serve our customers what they want in the way they want it - and that means having a deep curiosity and a digital mindset. I often say that we have to have a 24/7 mentality because thats what our customers expect in todays digital world. This is not just a problem to be solved by our 12,000 technologists that keep our platforms up and running, but by all of Fidelitys associates - because all of our associates are also customers.When I interview candidates, I want to hear how they can tap into the power of their own differences to generate ideas for our customers, as well as how they support and encourage their colleagues to develop. Thats one of our leadership principles empowering and coaching others to their full potential. Im always interested in hearing personal stories and ideas about how leaders can inspire the next generation of leaders in our company.Glassdoor Now for a few fun ones - share three fun facts about yourself.Glassdoor Whats been your most rewarding moment as CEO? Your most challenging?Abby Johnson My biggest challenge has been to push Fidelity to increase our pace of innovation and to not be afraid to make the occasional mistake. Since our founding more than 70 years ago, we have always been a leader in the use of technology and in offering new products and services. But being a customer-obsessed company, we are very focused on delivering a great customer experience. And this means that we can sometimes be cautious in introducing new things. To be successful in a rapidly evolving world, we need to take smart risks and value pace over perfection another one of Fidelity leadership principles. The risk of competitive disruption in financial services has never been higher than it is today. I would rather disrupt ourselves than let us become complacent and get surprised by new ideas and innovations from a competitor.Glassdoor Whats your personal mott o? What words do you live by?Abby Johnson Always challenge the status quo and embrace change as an opportunity for improvement.1. U.S. Census Bureau The Census Bureau predicts shifts in the U.S. over the coming years, with a more diverse - and older - population, 20152. 143 women100 men, women are earning graduate degrees at a faster rate women represent 57percent of workforce McKinsey & Company, Why Diversity Matters , January 2015

A New Type of Engineer is Emerging Meet the Digital Engineer

A New Type of Engineer is Emerging Meet the Digital Engineer A New Type of Engineer is Emerging Meet the Digital Engineer A New Type of Engineer is Emerging Meet the Digital Engineerby John Varrasi, ASME Public InformationChallenged to deal with the unprecedented rate of change brought by the increasingly digitized and data-driven economy, companies of all stripes are recruiting mechanical engineers with aptitude and specialized skills in computer programming, computer coding, and artificial intelligence.According to educators, MEs in high demand today will be required to function comfortably in the virtual world and be able to design products and systems from real-time prestige-based representations. Now more than ever, mechanical engineers will need to mediate through a computer, said Eliot Winer, professor and associate director of the Virtual Reality Center at Iowa State University.Big DataOne factor driving this paradigm shift in the mechanical engineering profession stems fr om corporate interests to meet customer expectations in the emerging digital age. According to a recent report by Accenture, 25 percent of the worlds economy will be digital by 2020. In the midst of this digital revolution, customers will have greater access to product information that will enable them to interact with businesses through a wide range of data channels. To succeed, companies will be required to develop highly automated and highly intelligent machines and processes that can harvest data and use it to create business solutions, improve products, and enhance customer interaction. And they will need professionals skilled in parsing all this data into actionable plans.Another factor playing a role in the new engineering model relates to technological complexity and the proliferation of sensors, artificial intelligence, and sophisticated electro-mechanical systems in products. Driverless cars and interconnected household appliances already are at the threshold, and the not- too-distant future might bring such disruptive technologies as nano-robots that recognize and treat cancer. Companies on the leading edge of these new technologies will seek mechanical engineers to write algorithms, develop autonomous learning systems and predictive models, and design intelligent controls.Any industry that deals with large amounts of data processing, statistics, analysis, and computer programming would welcome digital mechanical engineers, said Tahira Reid, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University. These engineers use data to develop interactive bentzer interfaces, specialty graphics software, and visualization tools.To train this new breed of mechanical engineer, Purdue has developed a curriculum that includes courses and laboratories in linear circuit analysis, automatic control systems, and signal processing, while recently expanding its offerings into the areas of perception-based engineering and digitally enabled materials prototypi ng . Other universities are filling academic posts with professors and researchers with expertise in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and data-driven shape design.Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Mich., has completely revised its mechanical engineering curriculum, incorporating a simulation focus into the design/build methodology and adding courses in controls, sensors, and systems thinking. The digital engineer is now expected to carry out simulations in the virtual environment first, before proceeding to the design, build, and test stages, said William W. Predebon, professor and J.S. Endowed Department Chair in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at Michigan Technological. In industry, this approach results in reduced product development cycles.New Skill SetsIn addition to achieving a high comfort level with simulation and virtual design, many mechanical engineers today are embracing the latest visualization and graphics too ls that enable real-time image processing, mapping, and 3D modeling. Others are immersing themselves into the domain of computer science, developing aptitudes in digital metrics, computer programming, and, in some instances, coding.Many companies today are seeking engineers with a blend of computer programming and traditional computer-aided design skills, said Winer of Iowa State.These companies populate many industries, from aviation and automotive to retailing and food service. Currently, digital disruptors like Google and Microsoft are taking the lead, but traditional companies seeking innovation and a competitive edge are making strides. Auto companies already are building new digital models supporting the connected car, while longer-term RD programs will be focused on in-vehicle networks and boosting computer power for control systems. GE Aviation, Samsung, and Boeing are among other players in the digital economy. To be more relevant to these companies, many mechanical enginee ring students are rethinking career preparation. Some ME students are pursuing a dual major in computer science and mechanical engineering. Others are learning information technology on their own.Many MEs with extensive knowledge in programming and other aspects of computer science are self-taught, noted Tahira Reid of Purdue. Some enroll in corporate internships, in which in-depth training and advanced skills not available in the university setting may be acquired. One student of mine told me that he learned quite a bit by attending hackathons.According to Reid, the interdisciplinary nature of mechanical engineering today will require some level of knowledge and comfort in information technology. Oftentimes we find digital MEs embracing a number of disciplines outside of mechanical engineering, collaborating not only with electrical and other types of engineers but professionals from the social sciences and psychology as well, said Reid. With the burgeoning digital economy, the car eer landscape in mechanical engineering is evolving.

How to Impress a Hiring Manager

How to Impress a Hiring ManagerHow to Impress a Hiring Manager It may be a job seekers market , but the pressure is still on every applicant to put their best foot forward. After all, you want to impress the recruiter and hiring manager with your skills, experience, and passion for the open role, right?Its imperative to not only have the right credentials but to deliver a compelling narrative in your resume , interview and interactions with the company-to-be. Often times, the first person in this interaction is the hiring manager . Impressing the hiring manager or your potential boss is no easy feat. Tzu sichefore, we spoke with a pro, Meg Scheaffel, who reviews thousands of resumes and candidates in her role asChief Nursing Officer at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, Virginia.In addition to the technical and clinical skills, Scheaffle looks for nursing candidates who are leaders, believe in the companys mission and have a Yes we can approach to healthcare. She an d Carilion on are so eager to hire top talent that for select roles they are offering an up to $30,000 signing bonus as well as relocation .If youre eager to impress a recruiter, heres how to do it Pay special attention to the characteristics, attributes and soft skills Scheafflementions in order to really stand out.Glassdoor What does leadership mean to you as Chief Nursing Officer at Carilion?Meg Scheaffel Inspiring and investing in building dynamic, autonomous, professional teams to meet transformational healthcare demands through establishing a clear vision, living the organizational mission and positively managing change and process improvements.Glassdoor What do you look for in nursing candidates?Meg Scheaffel Positivity, innovation, compassion, visionary, collaborative and energetic professionals that have the heart to deliver outstanding care in todays healthcare environment.Glassdoor How do you recruit talent what are some of your best practices?Meg Scheaffel Nur sing leaders and CNO meet with students, faculty, and employees in a variety of venues to develop new and creative ways to recruit and retain top talent. Recently we added an evidenced-based nurse residency program and Progressive Care Fellowship to our recruiting and professional development attach. We also initiated an international nurse recruitment program to further diversify our workforce and meet our staffing needs. The town is growing and is a safe place to live We are nestled in the foothills of the Appalachia Mountains with a plethora of outdoor activities yet we have a mild winter. Of interest, Roanoke offers a variety of events including theatre, performing arts, sports, concerts and museums.Glassdoor How do you retain talent, what are some of your best practices?Meg Scheaffel Investing in our nurses is key. We have numerous developmental programs and continuing education offerings. We have a state of the art simulation lab and a Human Factors gruppe that works collabor atively with our nurses to ensure delivery of safe practice and quality patient outcomes.Glassdoor What are some of the coolest or most unique perks and benefits you offer?Meg Scheaffel We conduct In Step with a Nurse an outreach shadowing program for high school students Shine Awards, Stories of the Heart, DAISY recognition, Annual Nursing Research conference, Annual Arts and Science of Nursing Showcase, RN-LPN team nurse model if key areas, Professional Nurse Certification education and reimbursement, yearlong nurse residency onboarding support, PCU fellowship, internal traveler positions, flexible shifts, admit-discharge nurse support, Clinical Nurse Specialist resources, and visible leadership.Glassdoor What do you do to foster employee trust and engagement at Carilion?Meg Scheaffel Be visible, listen to employee feedback, implement process improvements based on employee feedback, and communicate, communicate, communicate timely and thoroughly. Never make promises I cant ke ep.Glassdoor How do you help build a great company culture for your nurses?Meg Scheaffel Strong shared decision-making structure that provides nurses autonomy, voice, and empowerment. Professionally developing nurses front-line line leaders to be fair, equitable, innovative and dynamic while providing outstanding compassionate care.Glassdoor Your employees love working here as we see the strong rating on Glassdoor How do you make this a great place to work day in and day out?Meg Scheaffel Investing in our staff and leaders getting to yes, we can. Supporting research and innovation in servant leadership manner. We support a just culture.Glassdoor What is the best parte about working here?Meg Scheaffel The organizational and nursing culture is true to heart. We invest in education, research, and professional development. We pride ourselves in having the first certified (nurse surveyed) Shared Governance model in the State of Virginia and the thirteenth in the country We live our mission daily and provide exceptional care in a Magnet designated and Trauma level 1 organization