Hollen is senior vice president, Xerox Information Management, and for Xerox Corporation. She is responsible worldwide for the corporation's key business applications and technology infrastructure. Most recently, she was senior vice president, North America Information Management. Since 1977 Hollen has held positions with increasing levels of responsibility across multiple business areas including software engineering, physical chemistry, technical program management, supplies, and customer satisfaction. Hollen earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Rochester. She received a certificate in computer engineering and management development from the Rochester Institute of Technology and Simmons College, Boston, respectively.
 
 
Would you expand on your comment that "IT is now viewed as a strategic investment"?  Do you think this is a widely held belief?
At Xerox, our business strategy and technology strategy are tightly linked. We view and use technology as a tool to solve business problems and to create new opportunities. We continuously scan the constantly-evolving technology landscape to identify capabilities that will bring value to our customers and business partners.

IT is on the frontline of every business area. Our focus is our customers. We are process-driven, and we use technology to enable us to best serve our customers. Technology brings the ability to automate processes and interact with our customers and suppliers.  Technology enables collaboration around the world.

I believe that more and more companies are seeing IT as a strategic investment and that view will become even more pervasive in the future.
 

With more and more women entering the IT field, would you share some advice to students about to enter this growing field?
We need talented people coming out of school with sound business acumen and robust technology understanding.

A focus on technology, and a strong math and science foundation is still key for entering the IT field. However, the IT business has changed from 20 years and even from just five years ago. Today, equally important as strong technology skills are the business and people skills—how to manage people, money, projects, and processes globally.
 

Balancing corporate and private life can be a challenge for all of us... what is your strategy for maintaining all your responsibilities?
Balance is an interesting word—someone recently framed it up as choices—choice describes what I do! Balancing my corporate and private responsibilities is a constant challenge. Prioritization and planning are critical—it is very important to be very organized and to plan meetings, what and when work will be completed, and who needs to be involved. I have an excellent team of people that I can delegate to and involve.

I plan my time at work and I also plan time with my family; and each one gets my undivided attention. When I am at work, I am fully engaged and when I am home I am also fully engaged. This ensures that the time is quality time in both cases.

Clearly, not for Xerox, but for corporate America in general—is there still a "glass ceiling" for women? 
Data shows this has most certainly improved over the last ten years or so, but I don't believe the "glass ceiling" is completely a thing of the past. Today, firms have women at the top or in senior leadership positions. Having said that, I believe there are many firms with strong cultures that are keeping that "glass ceiling" in place.

Where did you learn your work ethic? Who was your mentor?
My family—parents/grandparents/husband—were my role models; I followed their lead. Beyond my family, I've had key influential business relationships over the course of my career. Each helped me learn, grow, and stretch myself as a person and a leader.

BSM

 

 

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