Why do I work at EMC? It has been a funny few days watching the Data Domain offer ping pong like a fabulous house in a seller’s market (remember those?). I loved the idea of writing a post about why I work at EMC and the answers will not surprise anyone who is a regular reader of either of my blogs. I have been talking about my choice to work at EMC for as long as I have had a blog.
I work at EMC because EMC works for me.
Sounds paradoxical, but it is true.
In 2001 I made a decision to sell my business because I wanted to spend more time in technology and solving customer problems than the administration of a small business.
I am an individual contributor at EMC. Yet, when I approached an EVP about an idea to create a book (The Working Mother Experience) celebrating EMC working mothers that would connect our EMC women and show that EMC understands the important role of women, and specifically working mothers, in the workforce around the globe. He responded that it was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the unique, daily challenges working mothers face and the ways in which they overcome obstacles so that they can thrive in our company. He made a commitment on the spot to sponsor the project. For those of you who are counting the ladder rungs this person is my boss’s, boss’s, boss’s, boss! Did I mention the book is FREE to ANYONE? A good idea is embraced as a good idea and it does not have to come from a peer to be considered a good idea.
This type of thing does not happen just anywhere. Reason #1 why EMC is for me.
EMC does not govern by rules, but by guidelines. Sounds cloudy and it is, but it allows EMC to be tens of thousands of people AND agile like a startup. Most of what you learn in one job is transferable to different departments so you can change jobs without switching companies. If you don’t happen to click with one manager that is fine, pick one of the other 10,000, but you don’t have to leave your friends behind. Personally, I have never switched departments, but I have worked on no less than 7 major unrelated projects. It is always something new.
Always something new. Reason #2 why EMC is for me.
When I interviewed at EMC I feared storage would be boring, now I can’t imagine what I was thinking. The terrible truth about me is that I bore easily and live to be needed and inspired. Statistically speaking, there are an abnormal number of inspiring people at EMC. I have the honor of working in the flagship product line Symmetrix. My great joy is that I work with the most inspiring, infuriating, flexible, stubborn, opinionated, clever, disciplined, compassionate, people in the world.
I have personal heroes at EMC, people who challenge me that I want to emulate in one way or another. EVP of the TCE and Storage Division, Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Sustainability Officer, VP in CS, a handful of brilliant engineers, two HR people, a few bloggers, and Tom the Security guard who EVERY DAY smiles at me, calls me by name and wishes me well – just to name just a few.
Heroes and satisfying work. Reasons #3 why EMC is for me.
I don’t think the high tech life is for everyone. Someone asked me once WHY EMC? (honestly because they were trying to get me to come work for them) and I said because everywhere else is just jumping rope and EMC is Double Dutch. Being really smart and creative is what you need to get into the game. If you want to distinguish yourself you have to go beyond that. You have to be focused on quality, customers, your community and be interested in being part of something bigger than yourself to make it work here. That is our culture and I am proud of it.
Are there things that I don’t like about EMC. Absolutely. There are also things about my husband that drive me crazy, but I still love him and would make no other choice.
I could go on with more reasons about why I have stayed at EMC, but I think the important stuff has been said. I work at EMC because EMC (culture) works for me.
***Edited to add two YouTube Videos that were taken months ago. They ended up being posted today and I think they are relevant to this note. Enjoy!
