As a woman stood at the head of the largest defense company in the world
'19.01.2019'
Source: Forbes Russia
A girl from a large family of Marilyn Hewson 30 worked for years in the American defense company Lockheed Martin, before heading her. Today, Hewson says she learned from her mother everything she needed to know about leadership. In November, 2018, she entered the top 100 most efficient CEOs in the world.
The girl was standing at the window with a shopping list for seven dollars, she had only five in her hands. “I know you will make the right choice,” the schoolgirl's mother said, sending her to the store. Marilyn Hewson’s father died of a heart attack at the age of 40, and the woman was left alone with five children, ranging in age from 5 to 15, says Forbes Russia.
Now Hewson 64 of the year, she heads Lockheed Martin, the world's largest defense company, which currently has a market capitalization of $ 92,5 billion. In 2018, Fortune magazine ranked Marilyn Hewson in first place in the ranking of the most powerful women in the world. Also, Hewson is one of four women on the list of the most efficient CEOs in the world, according to the Harvard Business Review. How did a girl from a poor large family become the most influential woman in the world and head the largest military-industrial corporation?
All by herself
Marilyn Hewson took over as Lockheed Martin's CEO in 2013, having gone a long way from a simple industrial engineer to a company's CEO. She joined Lockheed Corporation in the early 1980s, long before the merger with Martin Marietta. Starting her way at the plant that produced the aircraft, she moved from one unit to another and managed to work in eight cities where there were representative offices of the company. She recalls that when she saw the planes for the first time at the factory, she was so impressed that she “never again wanted to work anywhere else.”
With her husband, James Hewson, she met while studying at the University of Alabama. Despite the fact that she later received her education in the best business schools in the world - Harvard School of Management and Columbia University, she often said that it was the University of Alabama that taught her to always be prepared for the difficulties and opportunities that she faced throughout her careers. Chet Hewson maintains his university. For example, in 2018, they donated $ 15 million to him. Marilyn Hewson not only helps the alma mater financially, but is also a member of the presidential cabinet of the university.
Husband became for Marilyn Hewson support and support. In one of her interviews, she recalls: “We moved to Texas because of my work. We had two small children, then I told James: “Would you like to take a break and stay at home for a year?”
And he took over the household and child care responsibilities. According to Hewson herself, this model suited both of them.
The head of Lockheed Martin believes that she also owes her career success to her mother, Mary Adams, who alone was able to raise five children. “Mother’s resilience taught me everything I needed to know about leadership,” a woman shared in one of her interviews.
Hewson's parents met during the Second World War. His father was a civilian in the army (he was unable to join the ranks of the soldiers due to injury), and his mother studied as a nurse and joined the women's army corps.
Mary Adams wanted her daughter to be special - this is how the second letter L (Marillyn - Forbes) appeared in her name. Marilyn's childhood was full of worries. She was only nine years old when the family was left without a breadwinner. She recalls that she had to not only help around the house, but also watch over the younger ones. Despite the fact that Hewson’s career has always gone uphill, she has repeatedly experienced insecurity in herself and her abilities. CEO Lockheed Martin complained that she wanted to have a person next to her who said she needed to take risks in order to grow and grow. Hewson believes that you should not try to do everything perfectly: you need to do your job as well as you can, and not be afraid of mistakes. She says that the only way to become a leader is to create your own experience.
Cards match
Hewson, who served as executive vice president of the electronic systems division at Lockheed Martin, took over as CEO of the corporation after the resignation of Bob Stevens, who has worked in this position since 2004 of the year. You could say that Hewson was lucky. Christopher Kubasik, the President and Operations Director, was to become the new CEO, but he was fired because of his “close personal relationship with his subordinate.”
In his staff, Hewson appreciates initiative and focus on results. “Now is not the time to be modest, time to be able to stand up for yourself,” she says.
The company, led by Hewson, is the largest developer and manufacturer of weapons and military equipment. Most of the profits Lockheed Martin gets through government orders. In 2018, the corporation entered into a contract with the US Air Force for $ 928 million to design and manufacture the first American hypersonic guided missile.
The company's most famous project is the F-35 (Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II), fifth generation fighter-bomber family. It is in service with many countries, including the United States, Great Britain, Norway, and Japan. Interestingly, for the development of the first F-35 fighters, the knowledge and experience of the Soviet Yakovlev Design Bureau specialists were used, in many respects it resembles the Yak-141 vertical take-off and landing fighter, whose production was discontinued after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Last December, Trump said: “The F-35 program and its cost went out of control. Billions of dollars can and should be saved on military and other purchases after January 20. ” His statement caused a drop in shares by 4,2% - the company's capitalization fell by $ 2 billion.
Hewson herself promised to reduce the cost of F-35. “From a defense industry perspective, he [Trump] admits that we need to increase spending on national security.” But he wants to do it with taxpayers' money wisely. We understand that, ”she commented.
In 2018, Hewson was awarded the The Edison Awards for his contribution to the world of innovation. This award is considered a kind of "Oscar" of innovation and is awarded by the organization Edison Universe.
At the end of the summer, Trump signed a defense budget bill that provides for the allocation of $ 7,6 billion to build X-NUMX F-77 fighter jets. Well, it seems that the company will not remain without orders, and Marilyn Hewson will still be one of the most influential women in the world.
