Rosalind Walker-Lewis, 51, is the center of excellence manager for operations test team in ITT Exelis’ Geospatial Systems division.

Community and leadership involvement: Member of Union Baptist Church-World Changing Ministries, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. (the local chapter is Eta Upsilon Zeta); previously a member of the board for the March of Dimes in northeast Indiana.

Most recent accomplishment: The opportunity to manage a 150-member team located in Fort Wayne, Clifton, N.J., and Rochester, N.Y. ITT Exelis Geospatial Systems provides equipment, software and data analysis that makes GPS navigation possible, helps forecasters predict the weather more quickly and collects and sends images and video from space, air and ground. The Test Team is responsible for helping to perform tests on the equipment to ensure customer requirements are met.

Based on her ITT Exelis job, Walker-Lewis also attended a bell-ringing at the New York Stock Exchange on Nov. 4, three days after ITT’s defense operation completed its spinoff from ITT Corp. “It was truly an honor, clearly something I will remember a long time,” she said.

What makes a leader: Being able to set a vision for your team, understanding the big picture of the business and being an “enabler for others” to ensure they can also succeed. Walker-Lewis also said it’s also important to embrace change, respect those you work with, and be a person of integrity who keeps their word.

Leadership traits you most value: Vision and the ability to collaborate are two of the key ones.

Best leadership book you’ve read: The most recent is “Attitude is Everything” by Keith Harrell. Walker-Lewis said the author includes 10 steps to “help guide you in life.” Having a positive attitude and sometimes reframing your thinking is important, she said, because “your mind can help or hinder you.”

Best ways to overcome self-doubt: “One would be faith because sometimes with the trials or the challenges that are before us (you’re) always going to want to (have) the confirmation you’re making the right choices, and you don’t always have all the data right before you 100 percent,” Walker-Lewis said. “There are times when you may have to do a sanity check with someone you trust.” Self-reflection is also important, she said, because it offers an opportunity to assess whether you could have done something to improve the outcome of what you have been involved in. If so, that becomes “a teaching moment.”

Time management tips: Try to find time in the day to “think and plan.” That helps avoid the risk of getting so caught up in activity that you don’t “take that time to step back and think over the long term what it is you want to accomplish,” Walker-Lewis said. In the business environment, costs, schedules and quality are crucial, so using time and resources wisely and learning to delegate, but follow-up as necessary, are also important.

Role model(s) and why: James E. Thomas, a former supervisor when Walker-Lewis worked for General Electric in New Jersey and the company was transitioning to Martin Marietta; Jylla Tearte, a past international president with the Zeta Phi Beta sorority; and Jo Gross, an early supervisor within ITT.

“The people that come to mind, they’ve led by example; people always talk about walking the talk,” Walker-Lewis said. She also appreciated the integrity and honesty she saw in those three individuals and their willingness to mentor. “They set up an environment where they wanted you to thrive, not just to survive,” Walker-Lewis said, but they still knew how to have fun. “You worked hard, but you also played hard,” she said.

Describe one leadership challenge and how you resolved it: While helping an organization she’s part of with a community service program, Walker-Lewis said she had to help conflicting personalities see the value of teamwork. In debating what type of event or program to plan, there were “several naysayers” because of a proposed program that had not been tried before. The challenge was to let those involved use their talents and “empower them to go forward” while making clear the expected outcome, which was to raise money to give back to the community. In the end, everything worked out. Walker-Lewis said after you empower individuals, you also have to give credit when a task is successfully completed.

What are your goals: Walker-Lewis describes them as “pretty basic.” She hopes to continue making a positive impact at ITT Exelis, helping the company continue its successes. Her current, two-year assignment is winding down and details about her next assignment are still being worked on, but Walker-Lewis said she looks forward to the next challenge. After 28 years in corporate America, she knows change is constant. Walker-Lewis also had leadership roles with GE, Martin Marietta and Lockheed Martin before joining ITT Exelis.

She also wants to keep using her leadership skills to help with community events and activities. “I want to continue to make a difference in the lives of the people I deal with,” Walker-Lewis said. “Also I want to have fun,” noting that it is important to enjoy life.

Hobbies: Spending time with family, participating in community service activities, going to the movies or watching them at home and reading.

Family: Husband, Rudy Lewis; they have two adult sons, Damon and Desmond.

Compiled by Lisa Green,

The Journal Gazette