Transition Sparks Leadership

Right now, we are living through one of the biggest transitions in GE’s history. We’re experiencing the evolution of an iconic global company. Shortly, GE will emerge as a leaner, more focused company centered around aviation, power and renewables, while GE Healthcare and BHGE spin off as stand-alone businesses. 

Tumultuous times call for strong leaders. Yes, change can be scary. Yet, in my experience, it is also a catalyst for bold new ideas and new possibilities … powered by the right people in the right leadership positions.

I know we’re going to depend on strong leaders at every level to shepherd us through these changes at GE. And GE is not alone in navigating such transitions. This is an exciting time for any leader who is looking to break through.

But what do we mean when we talk about breaking through? 

In his 1964 book Managerial Breakthrough, engineer and management consultant Joseph Juran defined breakthrough as dynamic change. Juran was writing about Six Sigma and described dynamic change as the opposite of “control,” or maintaining the status quo.

Times of dynamic change — such as now for GE — are the most fertile grounds for innovation. After all, with everything already in transition, why not experiment with bigger ideas, even those that might be considered riskier ones? 

In my 35-plus-year career, I’ve learned three leadership lessons that might inspire those trailblazers and pioneers out there who might be hesitating at the precipice of change: 

Follow your passion

Approach your life and your career with passion. Following my passion has taken me in the right direction — even when it wasn’t the expected direction.

Growing up, my parents assumed I would follow their footsteps into academia. In their world, there is nothing more noble than education. So they were taken aback when I decided to take a job at Bio-Rad, a life sciences company, and left my academic work in biochemistry and molecular biology behind. 

This was the first time a door like this had opened for me, and I enthusiastically walked through it. It’s where I discovered my deep love for innovation — and I never looked back.

After a while, my parents came to respect my decision. They have seen how I’ve been able to succeed over my career and how happy and fulfilled I have been.  

You are the one who has to live your life. Follow your passion. It’s never too late to walk through that door.

Take risks to keep learning

While you’re following those passions, allow yourself to take risks. The status quo may feel safe, but it has been shown time and time again that it’s during times of dynamic change that real breakthroughs happen.

In my own career, one of the biggest risks I took was 22 years ago, when I was offered a position with Affymetrix, a small genomics startup that at the time was on the cusp of the genomics revolution. 

I had to decide whether to stay at Amersham, a well-performing global corporation (which has since been acquired by GE), or leave for Affymetrix, a startup that could either go bust or thrive. Finally, my husband, a huge believer in Affymetrix’s groundbreaking technology, showed me the way by asking me: “Sue, are you going to stay a passenger in the genomics revolution or do you want to drive it?”

So I went.

It was one of the many risks that have rewarded me in my life. Affymetrix grew from a pre-revenue startup to a global multibillion-dollar market cap genomics leader. I learned so much from that startup experience, which in turn led to my time as a venture capitalist, and paved the way for me to take on various leadership roles at GE. 

Everybody’s path is different. But as daunting as it might seem, take risks, step outside your comfort zone and take on roles where you never stop learning. If you trust your instincts and bet on yourself, you won’t find yourself stuck in a rut.

Bring others along with you

Whether you are rising in the ranks or if you’re already near the top, there are always opportunities for you to look out for others and bring them along with you. This is the most important belief I’ve embraced, and I practice it passionately: Team is everything and we have a responsibility to each other. It’s never too late to get in the habit of looking out for others.

This has never been more important than it is today. 

Achieving a new height or tackling a new position is a great accomplishment. But it comes with an obligation to ensure you’re using your position and your voice on behalf of others. A true leader is not afraid to share wisdom and strength with peers and mentees, nor are they afraid to share failures.

As you take that leap into transition, embrace your leadership talents and roles, and the responsibilities and expectations that come with them. There’s never been a more exciting time to be a leader.