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Started out as a Systems Engineer at IBM in 1981. That's an impressive rise within the same company from the technical side. Mr Palmisano started at IBM as a S

Started out as a Systems Engineer at IBM in 1981. That's an impressive rise within the same company from the technical side. Mr Palmisano started at IBM as a Salesman in 1973.

redthrowaway 15y ago
That is indeed impressive, especially seeing as she transitioned from Engineering to Sales. I can't say I know anything about her, but it's good to see people climbing the corporate ladder the old fashioned way, and C-level execs who know what life is like on the front lines.
- hkmurakami 15y ago
  I truly hope that someone, somewhere inside Hewlett-Packard is seeing this and thinking deeply to him or herself.
  - redthrowaway 15y ago
    I'm sure lots of people at HP are thinking deeply. I am unconvinced that any of them hold positions on the board.
  - mgse 15y ago
    If you mean the idealistic notion that an engineer can come in and eventually run the company, sure, if they get on the management path quickly. Spent just under a decade with IBM working on servers and even the best people I saw (technically and politically) were taking 8+ years as engineers to make it to a senior level (band 9 for any IBMers). And at that point, you're likely just a glorified project manager. If you put together a couple decades of awesomeness, maybe you make Distinguished Engineer or even IBM Fellow. They don't end up as VPs or CEOs. As a disclaimer, I now work at HP. With respect to the culture in the trenches, I see IBM and HP as almost identical. Some great people to work with, interesting projects, and way too much bureaucracy :)
    - hkmurakami 15y ago
      With respect to personnel, would you venture to say that perhaps nothing other than the Board is different between these two companies?
- vaksel 15y ago
  the "front line" can change a lot year to year...especially if the company grows...so the front line experience may not be all that relevant .
  - potatolicious 15y ago
    True, though I'd still rather work for someone who's been in the trenches than a "career-long manager" who has never seen the front-lines, in any form. And this isn't a straw man either - I've met way too many people who hopped straight into management and never did their time in the trenches. Invariably they are disconnected from reality.
pnathan 15y ago
It's nice to see a C-level of a multinational who's an engineer; she has a CS degree. I have been profoundly unhappy with IBM software products, maybe a new CEO will kick some butt and get some innovation rolling!
- hello_moto 15y ago
  IBM are probably no longer making products. Many of their products have been stagnant laying around just as cash cow via long term support. This is straight coming from the inside. But what do I know...
blantonl 15y ago
former IBM SE here... SE's at IBM are, technically, technical sales people. they are the ones that accompany the salesman to keep him honest and answer the tough questions.

Started out as a Systems Engineer at IBM in 1981. That's an impressive rise within the same company from the technical side. Mr Palmisano started at IBM as a Salesman in 1973.

redthrowaway 15y ago

That is indeed impressive, especially seeing as she transitioned from Engineering to Sales. I can't say I know anything about her, but it's good to see people climbing the corporate ladder the old fashioned way, and C-level execs who know what life is like on the front lines.

hkmurakami 15y ago
I truly hope that someone, somewhere inside Hewlett-Packard is seeing this and thinking deeply to him or herself.
- redthrowaway 15y ago
  I'm sure lots of people at HP are thinking deeply. I am unconvinced that any of them hold positions on the board.
- mgse 15y ago
  If you mean the idealistic notion that an engineer can come in and eventually run the company, sure, if they get on the management path quickly. Spent just under a decade with IBM working on servers and even the best people I saw (technically and politically) were taking 8+ years as engineers to make it to a senior level (band 9 for any IBMers). And at that point, you're likely just a glorified project manager. If you put together a couple decades of awesomeness, maybe you make Distinguished Engineer or even IBM Fellow. They don't end up as VPs or CEOs. As a disclaimer, I now work at HP. With respect to the culture in the trenches, I see IBM and HP as almost identical. Some great people to work with, interesting projects, and way too much bureaucracy :)
  - hkmurakami 15y ago
    With respect to personnel, would you venture to say that perhaps nothing other than the Board is different between these two companies?
vaksel 15y ago
the "front line" can change a lot year to year...especially if the company grows...so the front line experience may not be all that relevant .
- potatolicious 15y ago
  True, though I'd still rather work for someone who's been in the trenches than a "career-long manager" who has never seen the front-lines, in any form. And this isn't a straw man either - I've met way too many people who hopped straight into management and never did their time in the trenches. Invariably they are disconnected from reality.

pnathan 15y ago

It's nice to see a C-level of a multinational who's an engineer; she has a CS degree. I have been profoundly unhappy with IBM software products, maybe a new CEO will kick some butt and get some innovation rolling!

hello_moto 15y ago
IBM are probably no longer making products. Many of their products have been stagnant laying around just as cash cow via long term support. This is straight coming from the inside. But what do I know...

blantonl 15y ago

former IBM SE here... SE's at IBM are, technically, technical sales people. they are the ones that accompany the salesman to keep him honest and answer the tough questions.