Emerson Exchange 365

We’ve all been asked that sneaky question that always seems to come out of nowhere…“So, what do you do?” For such a simple phrase, that question can strike fear in even the fiercest warrior. I must have heard it a thousand times and yet, each new instance has my mind racing…just what DO I do? For some, the instantaneous answer may be “I’m an engineer” or “I work for XYZ Company” but for me, my mind goes in a million directions when asked that one simple question. Why? Because what I do is more than the tasks I work on for Emerson and our clients. What I do is part of a much bigger life puzzle. Yes, I am a professional chemical engineer with an MBA but I am also a mom to two awesome boys, a wife to an amazing husband, a daughter, a sister, a friend to many and the list goes on. All of these experiences make me who I am and ultimately shape “what I do”. So for this post, I’d like to share with you a little about who I ‘am’ so you can discern what it is I ‘do’.

Let’s start with the academic basics. I have a degree in chemical engineering from Georgia Tech (Go Jackets!), I am a registered professional engineer and I have an MBA from University of Texas (Hook ‘Em!). But this isn’t what I ‘do’ and it isn’t who I ‘am’. Thinking back to my days in undergraduate engineering school, I remember lecture halls full of curious “math and science kids” all there to endure four plus grueling years of instruction to become an expert at one thing – problem solving. And that is exactly what happens, you emerge with an engineering degree and an aptitude for solving any problem you are faced with. So, I ‘am’ a problem solver and that is exactly what I ‘do’ all day long, at home and in the office.  Every day is a new set of problems to solve – I might be solving customer’s toughest automation challenges in a refinery or I might be trying to figure out how to get two elementary aged boys out of the house and off to school on time – with lunches, jackets, shoes, karate uniforms, football gear, backpacks and with any luck, matching clothing. Problem solver, yes, that’s me – Expert Problem Solver and Super Mom.

But since “Expert Problem Solver and Super Mom” doesn’t go too well on a business card, I suppose I should tell you a bit about my role at Emerson. I am the Director for the Global Turnaround Program and I spend my time identifying ways to solve arguably our customer’s most stressful and complex problems – shutdowns and turnarounds.  To understand the challenge of turnarounds, imagine for a moment that you are the owner of and elite Formula One race car. The race starts off great -the car is performing perfectly, the driver is spot on. And then comes the pit stop. You have just seconds to perform all the activities required to ensure that the car makes it through the race. Forget to do something critical? The car will fail once back out on the track. Do too much or take too long? You’ll almost surely lose the race. Have the wrong people performing the work? You can almost guarantee delays and mechanical failure. Bring the car in for pit too early? You’re wasting precious time. Bring the car in for pit too late? Repair may no longer be an option. So now imagine the Formula One car isn’t a car at all but rather a fully functional oil refinery. And the pit stop in this case? It’s a turnaround or shutdown event. In this brief window, you must decide what activities need to be done, by whom and when, all with limited financial and human resources. This can be a daunting task for all parties involved but that’s where this “math and science kid” gets to use her expert problem solving skills to devise solutions to make these turnarounds events much like Formula One pit stops – safe, efficient and effective.

So racing an oil refinery in for a pit stop is certainly a fun problem solving opportunity but that’s just one of many. On any given day, I solve hundreds of problems – from “Mom, have you seen my iPad?” to “what’s for dinner?” to “Mom, the dogs ate my homework again”. One of the biggest problems to solve is deciding which problems will get solved today and which ones will have to wait. Setting priorities and sticking to them is critical. There will always be one more email, one more meeting, one more request for your time but it's up to you to decide which ones matter the most. When I find myself surrounded by foam ninja swords, stepping on Legos, picking up smelly football gear and endless Nerf darts, I know for sure that those are things that can't wait. These are the moments that matter the most and the ones I am most grateful for. Being Super Mom means setting a good example for my kids and teaching them to solve their own problems and be independent thinkers. I am a firm believer that happiness is a choice and I choose happy everyday. While it can be a daunting challenge to manage career and family, setting and sticking to priorities brings success with both. Choose your battles, know what and when it matters. Every day I am a mom, a wife, an engineer, a mentor, a teacher, a student, an innovator, an inspirer, a chef, a writer, a homework helper, a bedtime story reader and more. As crazy as the schedule gets, I am grateful for the craziness and enjoy every problem solving moment. Problem solver, yes, that’s me – Expert Problem Solver and Super Mom.