Member since March 2024
Leslie Martinich, a computer scientist who began her journey writing compilers, operating systems, and advanced communication software, led her team to deliver ground-breaking technology allowing developers to create parallel and distributed programs through Remote Procedure Calls (RPC).
In the middle of her career, she made a pivotal realization: project failures weren't due to technical hurdles, but rather rooted in managerial and leadership challenges. Determined to rectify this deficiency, she built leadership programs which she presented across 6 continents (sorry, Antarctica!), focused on innovation and preparing effective leaders. Her enthusiasm lies in instilling engaged leadership skills that resonate with the aspirations of today's young tech professionals and entrepreneurs.
Leslie is more than just a leader in tech; she's a catalyst for change. From sparking innovation to nurturing teamwork, Leslie's mission is to empower organizations to go beyond delivering products. Her guiding principle? Engaged leaders inspire teams, reduce turnover, and drive towards excellence in quality. Join her on a journey that's not just about quick fixes but about inspiring and helping leaders to become the influential change-makers of tomorrow.
I love the topics of leadership, innovation, diversity and technology.
Many years ago, before Diversity, Equity and Inclusion were on anyone’s radar, a young girl transferred to a new high school. She wanted to join the Science Club. Ahh, but the Science Club was a Boy Scout Troop, in fact, an Eagle Scout Troop.
Undaunted she jumped that hurdle, and she joined the Boy Scout Troop.
The Troop planned a field trip to Litton Industries, where a nice woman took the children to see all the clean rooms and special equipment that engineers were using to design new radar equipment. At the end of the tour, the nice woman addressed the group, saying, “When you grow up, you can be anything you want to be. You could work here and have one of these interesting jobs. Then she turned to the young girl and whispered, “And YOU can be a Librarian!” Undaunted, the young girl thought that was strange.
In her biology class she learned that during embryonic stages of growth, each cell divides and forms two exact copies of itself. “That’s interesting,” she thought. “If each cell replicates exactly, how do cells differentiate to form fingers, toes, eyes and ears?” She told her biology teacher that she would like to be a scientist. Her biology teacher told her, very matter-of-factly, that scientists had already solved all the world’s problems, so she would not need to be a scientist. Another hurdle.
She jumped that hurdle and went off to college to study science and math, and ultimately computer science. She excelled in her class and went on to receive an MA in Computer Science. And THEN she went on to work in industry. Yikes! More hurdles!
That young girl was me.
I spent the early part of my career writing software for operating systems and communications. I worked for Novell during a time of rapid growth and innovation in the networking industry, and saw first hand what worked and what did not work in innovation. I also saw first hand the effects of great leadership and poor leadership. And I experienced the performance bump of a diverse team.
The roller coaster of innovation in technology during the later 1980s and early 1990s was intoxicating! My curiosity spawned my research and writing, and I began publishing articles in technology journals and speaking at technology conferences.
I built on all that experience and research to create Competitive Focus, a company laser focused on improving the skills of technology leaders. And out of my speaking and training experience came my two favorite speaking topics:
• “Wait. What? Leading a Diverse Workforce will Actually Help My Team be More Productive? How is that Possible?”
• “How Can I Drive My Team to Deliver on Time without Driving them Nuts? Leadership, Deadlines, and Schedules, OH MY!”
And my all-time favorite workshop:
• “Leadership-Improv”
I am now a full time speaker and an IEEE Distinguished Lecturer. I have spoken at companies and conferences on every continent except Antarctica. My evaluations show that 100% of my attendees would like to hear me speak again.
How can I help make your event inspiring, memorable and fabulous?
Many years ago, before Diversity, Equity and Inclusion were on anyone’s radar, a young girl transferred to a new high school. She wanted to join the Science Club. Ahh, but the Science Club was a Boy Scout Troop, in fact, an Eagle Scout Troop.
Undaunted she jumped that hurdle, and she joined the Boy Scout Troop.
The Troop planned a field trip to Litton Industries, where a nice woman took the children to see all the clean rooms and special equipment that engineers were using to design new radar equipment. At the end of the tour, the nice woman addressed the group, saying, “When you grow up, you can be anything you want to be. You could work here and have one of these interesting jobs. Then she turned to the young girl and whispered, “And YOU can be a Librarian!” Undaunted, the young girl thought that was strange.
In her biology class she learned that during embryonic stages of growth, each cell divides and forms two exact copies of itself. “That’s interesting,” she thought. “If each cell replicates exactly, how do cells differentiate to form fingers, toes, eyes and ears?” She told her biology teacher that she would like to be a scientist. Her biology teacher told her, very matter-of-factly, that scientists had already solved all the world’s problems, so she would not need to be a scientist. Another hurdle.
She jumped that hurdle and went off to college to study science and math, and ultimately computer science. She excelled in her class and went on to receive an MA in Computer Science. And THEN she went on to work in industry. Yikes! More hurdles!
That young girl was me.
I spent the early part of my career writing software for operating systems and communications. I worked for Novell during a time of rapid growth and innovation in the networking industry, and saw first hand what worked and what did not work in innovation. I also saw first hand the effects of great leadership and poor leadership. And I experienced the performance bump of a diverse team.
The roller coaster of innovation in technology during the later 1980s and early 1990s was intoxicating! My curiosity spawned my research and writing, and I began publishing articles in technology journals and speaking at technology conferences.
I built on all that experience and research to create Competitive Focus, a company laser focused on improving the skills of technology leaders. And out of my speaking and training experience came my two favorite speaking topics:
• “Wait. What? Leading a Diverse Workforce will Actually Help My Team be More Productive? How is that Possible?”
• “How Can I Drive My Team to Deliver on Time without Driving them Nuts? Leadership, Deadlines, and Schedules, OH MY!”
And my all-time favorite workshop:
• “Leadership-Improv”
I am now a full time speaker and an IEEE Distinguished Lecturer. I have spoken at companies and conferences on every continent except Antarctica. My evaluations show that 100% of my attendees would like to hear me speak again.
How can I help make your event inspiring, memorable and fabulous?
