Cover Story
The Smith file
Smart Business Orange County | January 2008
Birthplace: Chicago
What was your very first job?
Clerk for A&P. I actually used to get my paycheck in a brown envelope, and it was just cash.
Whom do you admire most in business and why?
Two people, (starting) with Carly Fiorina. [I] admire the fact that she is
a female and continues to focus on leadership and results. I’ve been
impressed with her from afar. Second, Jack Welch, because of what he
did with GE and the focus on operational excellence and growing leaders
because that’s so critical in business. My last five years working for
Xerox, I was in corporate headquarters in Stamford, Conn., and GE was
right next door if you will, so I could admire what they did as a huge,
huge company.
What is the best business advice you’ve been given?
Respect people, deliver results and focus on the whole, not the individual. I come to work to focus on the company, not on myself.
If you could be one superhero, which one would you be and
why?
Superwoman, and that’s to get rid of the bad guys and focus on the
good deeds and do everything you can to help people succeed.
