The Working Mother Experience is a 250 page glossy coffee table book that contains nearly 100 essays written by EMC women (and one man) from around the world. The essayists share their candid perspectives on being working mothers in our fast-paced business environment.

EMC Children's Day

Aug 26th, 2009
Natalie Corridan-Gregg
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Every once and awhile you stumble into the chance to be part of something special. I recently had that experience. This blog is about the intersection of being a wife, mother, and employee. No single event has crossed all of those lines simultaneously before and the result was very cool.

EMC Children’s Day was EMC’s take on “bring your child to work day”. RSA and other divisions of EMC have had similar programs and Daisy Alba, Sr. Manager; Global Cash was determined to have it happen here at our corporate facility at 176 South Street. As a mother of two gorgeous kids herself, she understood the importance of having our kids’ see what their parents do and where they spend their workdays.

Daisy secured executive support for the idea and starting a steering committee. She asked me to be her co-chair and the project was underway.

Celebrating Employee Families as the theme, the volunteer team put together an aggressive program of activities to ensure that parents who brought their kids to work for the day would not be disappointed. Another requirement for the team was to put a smile on everyone’s face who worked in the building (whether they have children or not). It was no accident that the courtyard was selected in hopes of bringing smiles to anyone who saw the event from inside the building.

One HR meeting was completely disrupted in a conference room that overlooks the courtyard due to the 42 foot inflatable whale on loan from the New England Aquarium was being inflated as part of the program. One member of the meeting took a cell phone snap of the activities and emailed it to all the remote participants on the phone. Anecdotes like that one are what make the volunteer team members beam with pride.

As the day had come to a close, I was heading back to my office and half a hallway ahead of me I saw a family headed down the corridor, two children with balloons skipping down the hallway. As if that was not enough to make you smile…All of the people coming down the hallway in the opposite direction were SMILING. One of them said to me, “hasn’t this just been the greatest day?” Another said. “This place came alive today.” With that I went back to my desk to finish up my work. I was tired, but proud and of course, smiling, too.

Special thanks to the all of the Children’s Day sponsors, volunteers, facilities personnel and security teams that made the day possible! P.S. Thank you to Mother Nature for such a great day.

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Who wants to add their 2cents?

Jul 27th, 2009
Natalie Corridan-Gregg
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Ever since the Working Mother Experience launched in April many of the women from EMC who did not choose to participate in the book want to somehow be a part of the ongoing discussion. I have interviewed a few women at EMC and will start posting their stories to keep the spirit of the Working Mother Experience alive, but for all of this site’s readers that would like to participate the stories need not be EMC stories. We have EMC customer and partners lining up, but if there is someone who would like to add their 2cents an EMC Badge is not required. Just shoot us an email (link to the right).

Looking forward to it!

27 Shirts

Jul 10th, 2009
Natalie Corridan-Gregg
3 Comments »

Have you seen the movie 27 Dresses?  It was a pleasant surprise to me on a flight one day.  It was a cute movie about a bridesmaid never a bride…27 times.  Katherine Heigl’s ‘Jane’ is vexed by the closet of 27 dresses she has worn in other people’s weddings.   Official description of the movie from IMDB:  After serving as a bridesmaid 27 times, a young woman wrestles with the idea of standing by her sister’s side as her sibling marries the man she’s secretly in love with.

What does this movie have to do with a married working mother’s blog (other than I liked the movie when I saw it last year)?  The number 27 and being vexed!  I counted my three year olds shirts.  He has 27.  In the past two weeks he has decided that he will wear *2* of them.   As a busy mother, washing these two shirts so that one of them is ready to wear every day is impossible, never mind what it would do to the environment to constantly be washing half loads.  It is quite the little drama that we act out on the mornings that do not include the treasured Tumble Bus or Little Einsteins branded apparel.  Oh, and did I mention both shirts are white t-shirts with logos on the front.  White is so easy to keep from getting stained when you have a toddler, so having these highly prized gems looking good is a snap.  (Insert snicker here).

I really had no problem with the ‘terrible twos’ and I am not ashamed to admit I am enjoying the so called ‘trying threes’.  I love my son’s exploration of the world and his testing of his boundaries.  I actually find his sudden interest in what he wears intriguing, although occasionally inconvenient.  I have a ring side seat as he decides what foods he likes, what friends he prefers, what books will become dog-eared and now what garments will be threadbare by the end of the summer.

I am constantly awed by the rare experience and downright privilege of raising a child.  Having 14 nieces and nephews before delivering a child of my own, I changed lots of diapers.   Auntie went to baseball games, took pictures of proms and drove two hours in order to create the perfect up-do before a recital.  Once I rescued one terrified soul from the perils of a daddy long legs when we camped, rooted for one of the best ‘D’ men in Pee Wee hockey, sat through middle school production of the nutcracker with a fever of 101 and more baptisms, confirmations, graduations than one wishes to recall.  Loving children was part of growing up, especially those I am related to!  Yet, seeing the process unfold before my very eyes continues to take my breath away.

Being a parent has lots of challenges. The least of which is making sure that the “right” shirt, shoes, blanket, etc. are clean. Whether or not you work outside the home. Parenting is the most rewarding job ever!  (Remind me I said this when he becomes a teenager, will you?)

I work at EMC because EMC works for me.

Jun 10th, 2009
Natalie Corridan-Gregg
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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!

YouTube Natalie1


YouTube Natalie2

Meet EMC Working Mother — Raquel Abizanda

Jun 8th, 2009
Natalie Corridan-Gregg
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Marketing Manager, Spain
I am very satisfied with my personal life and professional life. I believe I am one of the few executives of a large multinational corporation with four children and, moreover, that I am valued in my work and that I don’t have to make sacrifices in my professional life to be a mother also. The other day I read a very interesting article in a Spanish newspaper that said, “Companies don’t discriminate against women; they do it against mothers.” This is definitely not my case. On the other hand, I won’t paint a picture of Utopia. My level of stress, on occasion, is extremely high. In fact, between my personal life and professional life I have a twenty-four-hour-a-day job. I don’t deny that it’s a challenge.”

Why she wanted her story to become part of the book:

This was a great project!! I enjoyed sharing this experience with other colleagues around the world. It demonstrates that even with different countries, different cultures, different ages, and different roles there is one common objective – to show that despite the difficulties it’s possible to manage and enjoy both your business and personal worlds.

Our main Marketing campaign is about “Thriving in the hardest environments”. That’s exactly what we working mothers do…successfully!! It’s just about EMC efficiency.

EMC World 2009: The WLF hosts panel discussion on The Working Mother Experience book

May 26th, 2009
Natalie Corridan-Gregg
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By Kelly Lavin and Natalie Corridan-Gregg
May 22, 2009
On Wednesday morning, 48 employees, customers, and partners gathered for a networking breakfast and panel discussion hosted by the EMC Women’s Leadership Forum on issues raised by The Working Mother Experience book. The book, published by EMC, contains real stories written by 96 EMC women (and one man) from around the world that provide candid perspectives on being working mothers in a fast-paced business environment.

EMC SVP ML Krakauer thanked the crowd for gathering at such an early hour to attend the event. She acknowledged EVP Frank Hauck and the WLF for putting the event together and stressed the importance of projects like The Working Mother Experience to the vitality of companies. Attendees from many different companies, men and women alike, mixed effortlessly during the breakfast portion. They introduced themselves and immediately exchanged stories about their experiences as working parents. EMC’s Marisol Arroyave presented a brief background on how The Working Mother Experience book came to be, how the project was launched, and the importance of the book to EMC’s culture.wlf_audience

Several dads joined in the discussion about work-life balance.

Attendees viewed a video montage of the book launch event in Hopkinton on April 3, and then the panelists took the stage. EMC employees Wendy Bertino, EMC Commercial Pre-Sales; Jean Weintraub, NY/NJ Sr. Practice Manager; Kathie Lyons, VP, Global Services; and Cathy Herbert, Director Partner Systems Engineering Organization, participated as panelists. Principal Product Manager and WLF advisor Natalie Corridan-Gregg served as moderator.

Each of the women related personal stories and exchanged advice. Popular topics of discussion were work-life balance, the help and hindrance of technology on family life, and the importance of having a good support system, both at work and at home. Panelists and attendees spoke about shared feelings of self doubt, guilt, pride, and joy in their experiences as working parents.

One panelist’s EMC team (mostly men) came to support her participation as a panelist. They talked about how proud they were of her accomplishments and “effortless” juggling of career and family.

The conversation in the room might have started with the WME book, but it was quickly a discussion of the balance of parenting (not specific to women) and career. About halfway through the event, it was clear that there was little difference in gender when it came to the struggles of working parents. The men were so engaged that the moderator had a difficult time winding down the conversation so the attendees could move on to the next scheduled EMC World 2009 event.

Key thoughts from the panel discussion included:

“The hardest part about being a working mom is probably getting over the preconceived notion that all women stay home after having children. I’ve always been a working mom and have had a positive experience. There are four people in the room here now that came to support me, and to me that’s very important.”
—Jean Weintraub

“I have a great support system at EMC, as well as family close by that I can rely on. I feel very lucky to have such great support in my choice to be a working mother.”
—Kathie Lyons

“If it is important to you, you can make it work.”
—Cathy Herbert

“My family knows at the end of the quarter things may be tough for a little while. I will have to take phone calls during dinner and answer e-mails during soccer games. Technology is a double-edged sword that can be overwhelming, yet helps us balance our work and family lives.”
—Wendy Bertino

“The women at EMC won’t accept second best, but setting achievable goals and understanding you can do a good job is important.”
—Natalie Corridan-Gregg

Many had to miss the event due to other commitments and classes that were running concurrently. The support that was shown throughout the day and requests for more of these types of sessions was a message received loud and clear.

Kate from customer Johns Hopkins said it best. “By having this event at EMC World, EMC is acknowledging the role of women in technology. They are putting their money where their mouth is around valuing employees and greater diversity. EMC is a company that gets it, and I want to do more business with that kind of a company.”wlf_panel21

Moderator Natalie Corridan-Gregg (far left) with panelists (l. to r.) Wendy Bertino, Jean Weintraub, Kathie Lyons, and Cathy Herbert.
wlf_panel
Some of the Women’s Leadership Forum event participants and panelists with EVP Frank Hauck.

EMC World 2009-Perspective

May 19th, 2009
Natalie Corridan-Gregg
3 Comments »

As a Product Manager talking to customers accounts for a lot of the time I invest in my job.  Thankfully,  it is also one of my favorite parts of my job.  In fact, it is second only to mentally sparring with the incredibly smart people I get the honor to call colleagues.  However, it is the customers who renew my energy around my work.  They bring their work struggles to the table and we try to find solutions.  I confess that I love to help people.  When someone tells me I have made their day or that I have made their lives easier it puts an extra spring in my step.  If I was not so squeamish, I think I would have loved to  do something in a medical profession.  In reality, I still close my eyes when I get a flu shot so I do not have to look at the needle.  It is a good thing I found a different vocation. Wouldn’t you agree?

A few days ago, in our corporate headquarters, an executive that I greatly admire said “business is people, people is business, you can’t separate the two”.  It was a jump start to my batteries.  When I was a freshman in college, one of my business professors said a similar thing.  It made me think “I made the right choice in major” then and still is true today.

So if you like people, business, problems to solve, and smart colleagues then where on Earth would you rather be than at your company’s annual technical conference?  Double Word Score for being able to be deemed smart enough to be a featured speaker in two sessions.  Yes, being at EMC World with 7000 customers, partners, and colleagues is exactly where I want to be.  It is what I have worked toward in my quest to be a Consulting Product Manager.  I present, meet with customers in sessions, take questions on the trade show floor and get to listen to some really smart people give key note addresses.  There is even a blogger lounge to satisfy all my social media habits.  What is not to love?

As much as this is the epicenter of what I love to do and where I want to be, it is still bittersweet.  This blog is about the intersection of career, wife and mother.   I miss my family when I travel.  Did I mention that EMC World is in Orlando, FL?  Long, long way from home.  All of those cool customer meetings and sessions are happening at the few moments in the day that I could “talk” with my son.  Since I arrived on Sunday I have probably only heard his voice on the phone for a total of 3 minutes.  That is a lot less time than I am used to!  Many of my blog posts here and on www.WorkingMotherExperience.com talk about how much I love being a mom.  In fact, I was telling someone at the conference just yesterday how much my son makes me feel like a superhero.  Remember above how I said how much I love to help people?  Kissing a bruised knee or cuddling a startled toddler after a popped balloon is the ultimate in feeling useful.  His birthday is this week and I am in Florida.  He is young enough not to know or care.  His party will be postponed until after I return, but *I* know it is his birthday and it is hard.

In conclusion, I guess the point of this blog is that even when we have it all, we can’t have it all at the same moment.  I have had and will continue to have a phenomenal time here at EMC World.  Especially on Wednesday AM where we are having a breakfast panel session with customers and partners on the Working Mother Experience book.  Yet, I will also have pangs of momentary sadness where I will think of my son and very much look forward to a BIG hug when I get home.

EMC World 2009

May 17th, 2009
Natalie Corridan-Gregg
2 Comments »

Back at my hotel after the first day of events at EMC World 2009. Lots of energy and excitement.

The day started off well.  My husband and son were ready for me to go.  The shuttle arrived on-time.  I was at the airport early, had lunch and there were no security lines to speak of.   Unfortunately, the day veered a little off track from there.  The plane arrived late at the gate.  We arrived late in Orlando and then the transportation out of the airport was a two hour disaster.   However, always being one to make lemonade in these situations I met a few new customers of EMC and enjoyed chatting with them.    After I brought a few of them through registration I turned around to see this poster:

WLF Event Poster at EMC World 2009

WLF Event Poster at EMC World 2009

(Sorry for the photo quality), but this put a little spring in my step. It reminded me that we were going to have a session at EMC World focused on the book. I am so excited for this session and can not wait to hear what customers and partners have to say about their experiences and what, if anything, this book has meant to them. The session is Wednesday 7:30-9:00am. I will write more from EMC World and will post thoughts from the session as soon as my schedule allows.

Happy Mother's Day

May 8th, 2009
Natalie Corridan-Gregg
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I am thrilled about all the attention that the working mothers at my company have received as a result of the Working Mother Experience book project.  Today I found out that I was highlighted in an article on EMC.COM.

The article only mentions the book project in passing, but does an excellent job of detailing the environment working Mother’s need.  Of course, they also mention the book.

The pride I feel about the book project and the women who participated lights me up every day.

Being a parent is hard work for mothers and fathers.  I can only tell the story I know, the working mother.

In honor of Mother’s Day weekend, I wanted to wish all mothers,  Happy Mothers Day!

Meet EMC Working Mother — SunHwa “Grace” Kang

May 5th, 2009
Natalie Corridan-Gregg
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SunHwa “Grace” Kang

Localization Quality Manager, South Korea

Mother of two: one youth; one teenager

Excerpt from Grace's essay (p. 176)

“… The other major factor that makes working from home possible is modern technology, with our wonderful VPN system a good example. While it is not easy to carry my heavy notebook computer in the jam-packed Seoul Metro, it works wonders when I work at home. Like magic, I can access all the designated e-rooms, Powerlink, Channel EMC and network drives around the world. I think technology is a friend to working mothers around the world.”

Why she wanted to contribute her story to the book: I love working at EMC and wanted to pay a small token of appreciation to my great managers who trust me enough to allow working from home sometimes. And I also hoped my essay will show how these state-of-art EMC technologies can help to balance my work and personal life. It is a very exciting to witness that modern technologies really can transform the way of human living and working very drastically.

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