netrashetty
Netra Shetty
Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI), through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, production, and distribution of lighting equipment and specialty products worldwide. The company was founded in 2001 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.[3]
Acuity Brands has spun off its specialty chemicals business effective November 1, 2008. The new company is known as Zep Inc. and is traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol ZEP. [4]
Judi North’s name may not be a household name but perhaps it should be. For the
thousands of people who know her – have worked with her and for her over her stellar
career – Judi is the best example of leadership they have ever seen.
Intelligent and self-effacing, confident and humble, courageous and reserved, strong and
feminine, neither intimidating nor intimidated, accountable and fair – Judi North is a
woman of character who “oozes” with inspiration in a very genuine and low-key style.
To emulate her as your role model would be a very smart thing to do, but first you need
to understand what makes her tick.
For the making of this leader, it started in Atlanta over 50 years ago. Judi was one of
four children – older sister (“the artistic one”), younger brother (“the jock”), and one
younger sister (“the athletic and musical one.”) Of herself, she said, “I became the news
editor, I liked to dance, and I loved bridge even in high school.” The family moved to
Jackson, MS when Judi was in eighth grade.
The fact that Judi’s grandfather and father were “telephone men” – both worked for the
phone company and had successful careers in management – surely influenced her
growing up. However, there was no specific talk of her following in their footsteps.
More significant were the factors of a good family life, high standards for academic
achievement (“You didn’t make B’s in our family!”), and hard-working parents who
instilled a strong work ethic in all four children. While Judi’s mother didn’t have a job
outside the home, Judi said, “I always felt she worked equally hard - if not harder - than
my father. Truthfully, where I grew up, I didn’t know any women who worked outside
the home. It was just the times and way it was.”
Always good in school and particularly in math, Judi entered Baylor University after high
school. Although she did well in college, she admits that academics weren’t her only
focus.
“I wasn’t overly concerned with grades and really just wanted to have a good time, be
president of my sorority (which she was), and get ready for the rest of my life.”
Steve North, Judi’s high school sweetheart, was a major player in her future plans. They
married right after college and Steve entered medical school at Ole MISS while Judi got a job teaching. Changing career paths three years later, Steve decided to relocate to Atlanta
and Judi began looking for a teaching job, but none were available.
Instead, Southern Bell was hiring bright young college grads - especially engineering
majors and math majors whom they could train to become telephone engineers – and Judi
answered the call. Her life would never be the same, but she could not possibly have
known just how far she would go within the company.
A path is engineered
Hired as a “junior engineer” one of a small number of females at the time – Judi knew
that she was not “the boss’s choice.” However, to his credit – and to Judi’s credit for
demonstrating just how capable she was and how hard she would work to learn on the job
– her boss became a strong mentor.
Over the years, Judi would gain the support and mentorship of all of her bosses and earn
the respect of all those she worked with and who worked for her. Chief among her
advocates were Dick Snelling, Executive Vice President of Network and Frank Skinner,
President of Southern Bell.
Both of these men were officers of the corporation and knew leadership talent when they
saw it. In Judi, they definitely saw it…and together they set a path for Judi’s upward
mobility. Snelling would help her learn more about running large organizations and
about the technology that was revolutionizing the industry. Skinner would help position
her as a future officer – in fact, the first female officer of Southern Bell.
One of the most challenging and developmental experiences to which Judi was exposed
was going to MIT (the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology) to pursue her masters degree. Sponsored by Southern Bell (which later
became BellSouth), Judi was the first woman recommended by the company for MIT’s
Management of Technology program. Moving her husband and young son, Zach, with
her to Boston for a year wasn’t easy, but she did it. About the experience, Judi said,
“MIT helped me realize what I had already learned as a leader as well as being a
tremendously broadening opportunity. Coming away from it, I think I was able to put
everything in perspective and to really see the big picture.”
Family and leadership
After MIT, Judi’s career would only accelerate. But something else was also going on
from a personal standpoint. Judi and her husband made a decision that he would stay
home with their son. This would give Zach at least one full-time parent, and it appeared
that Judi’s career would sustain the family financially. Judi credits becoming a mother
with helping her management style and keeping her grounded (she was actually married
11 years before her son was born.) She also acknowledges that having a supportive spouse – in her case a stay-at-home
spouse—was also beneficial. But Judi is quick to point out that this is clearly not
possible or necessary for all working women. What is important for career-minded
women and men is that good day care is available and affordable. Quoting Supreme
Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Judi said, “Whatever the price, having good day
care is more important than your salary and is the only way for a parent to have peace of
mind.”
Judi knows she missed out on some of her son’s activities, but doesn’t think it was a
problem for him. He and his friends came to understand the North family as one in
which the dad drove the carpool, not the mom! No big deal!!
Career progression – establishing a legacy
In 1989, Judi was promoted to an officer position with Southern Bell / BellSouth,a
position she would hold for 10 years. During her officer tenure, she would serve as
President of Consumer Services, the company’s largest business unit with as many as
22,000 employees before restructure, $8 billion in revenue, and $600 million in expense.
It was Frank Skinner who talked her into taking this position because of his own
experience in the business office environment. Judi was reluctant at first, but was quickly
won over by Skinner and later by the different type of leadership that was required and by
the people she would lead. Her older sister once told her, “I’ve been a service rep and
you better treat those people right!”
Armed with her sister’s admonition and influenced by Skinner’s own style of leadership
– charismatic and caring –Judi became one of the most admired officers in the company –
following in the model of her mentors, Skinner and Snelling.
It was BellSouth’s loss, and Video Conference Systems, Inc. (VSI)’s gain, when in 1999
with her career at an all-time high, Judi decided to step away to enter the entrepreneurial
world and run a company of her own. With her she took a successful leadership style,
years of earned credibility, a strong track record and impeccable credentials.
As of fall, 2002, Judi is no longer working for any company, but she’s keeping quite busy
with her board of directors’ position in at least four companies and with travels, reading,
and time with family and friends. Reflecting on her life so far, Judi is her usual selfeffacing self – not one to brag on her many achievements and awards, which include
membership in the Committee of 200, an exclusive organization by invitation only of
some of the nation’s top female executives; member of the International Business
Fellows; guest speaker at MIT for 12 years. What’s she proudest of? “Getting Zach grown.” In addition, she says, “I hope that in my
business career, I’ve made money for the companies I’ve worked for and that I’ve made
work life more enjoyable.” She feels good about how women she worked with supported
each other, but
also remembers when there was a “female and a male list of promotables.”
One of Judi’s regrets is that she was not able to push the concept of “job share” for
women and men to more acceptance and success. She believes that it is clearly possible
for job share to work to the benefit of the organization and the individuals involved. “It
could help ease some
of the tension and stress that leads people to complain about ‘work-life balance.’” Judi’s
personal advice to high-potentials: “Keep your own life balanced as it’s not up to the
company to do that.”
Another salient piece of advice comes from another “regret” – “I wish I’d been more
aggressive in the right way to push harder for certain things. Once you’ve established
your credibility and have good credentials, you can do that very effectively.”
Judi would also tell the next geneation of leaders to listen up: “If your style doesn’t fit
the company culture, it doesn’t mean that you’re wrong. You may have the right style
and can help change the culture…or, you might have to go somewhere else where your
style does fit.”
“Women are setting the bar these days in many corporations.”
“Having had the experience of both large and small business, I’d say a mix is the
best…preferably small, large, and small again. You can take a lot of what you learn in
the different settings and use it in the other to great advantage.”
“As for serving as a member of the board of directors for a public or private company,
my experience is that it’s reinforcing…of what you know…and it also allows you to learn
from other leaders with whom you ordinarily would not come in contact. I’ve learned
different approaches to problems and situations, different questions to ask, etc. If you are
the only one of a kind on the board (male, female, minority, etc.), I believe it helps a
board by your being there. It brings clarity. It also helps women in the organization if
they see a woman director…and I’ve found that many of the male executives want to
introduce me to the female managers in their companies. Serving on a board is not just a
position for me…I do it because I want to make a difference on that board.” According to those who know her, there’s absolutely no doubt that having Judi on your
board or on any project you’re involved in is an asset. Everyone can benefit from her
integrity of character and amazing insights. If only all next generation leaders – male and
female – could have a Judi North as their mentor!!
Acuity Brands has spun off its specialty chemicals business effective November 1, 2008. The new company is known as Zep Inc. and is traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol ZEP. [4]
Judi North’s name may not be a household name but perhaps it should be. For the
thousands of people who know her – have worked with her and for her over her stellar
career – Judi is the best example of leadership they have ever seen.
Intelligent and self-effacing, confident and humble, courageous and reserved, strong and
feminine, neither intimidating nor intimidated, accountable and fair – Judi North is a
woman of character who “oozes” with inspiration in a very genuine and low-key style.
To emulate her as your role model would be a very smart thing to do, but first you need
to understand what makes her tick.
For the making of this leader, it started in Atlanta over 50 years ago. Judi was one of
four children – older sister (“the artistic one”), younger brother (“the jock”), and one
younger sister (“the athletic and musical one.”) Of herself, she said, “I became the news
editor, I liked to dance, and I loved bridge even in high school.” The family moved to
Jackson, MS when Judi was in eighth grade.
The fact that Judi’s grandfather and father were “telephone men” – both worked for the
phone company and had successful careers in management – surely influenced her
growing up. However, there was no specific talk of her following in their footsteps.
More significant were the factors of a good family life, high standards for academic
achievement (“You didn’t make B’s in our family!”), and hard-working parents who
instilled a strong work ethic in all four children. While Judi’s mother didn’t have a job
outside the home, Judi said, “I always felt she worked equally hard - if not harder - than
my father. Truthfully, where I grew up, I didn’t know any women who worked outside
the home. It was just the times and way it was.”
Always good in school and particularly in math, Judi entered Baylor University after high
school. Although she did well in college, she admits that academics weren’t her only
focus.
“I wasn’t overly concerned with grades and really just wanted to have a good time, be
president of my sorority (which she was), and get ready for the rest of my life.”
Steve North, Judi’s high school sweetheart, was a major player in her future plans. They
married right after college and Steve entered medical school at Ole MISS while Judi got a job teaching. Changing career paths three years later, Steve decided to relocate to Atlanta
and Judi began looking for a teaching job, but none were available.
Instead, Southern Bell was hiring bright young college grads - especially engineering
majors and math majors whom they could train to become telephone engineers – and Judi
answered the call. Her life would never be the same, but she could not possibly have
known just how far she would go within the company.
A path is engineered
Hired as a “junior engineer” one of a small number of females at the time – Judi knew
that she was not “the boss’s choice.” However, to his credit – and to Judi’s credit for
demonstrating just how capable she was and how hard she would work to learn on the job
– her boss became a strong mentor.
Over the years, Judi would gain the support and mentorship of all of her bosses and earn
the respect of all those she worked with and who worked for her. Chief among her
advocates were Dick Snelling, Executive Vice President of Network and Frank Skinner,
President of Southern Bell.
Both of these men were officers of the corporation and knew leadership talent when they
saw it. In Judi, they definitely saw it…and together they set a path for Judi’s upward
mobility. Snelling would help her learn more about running large organizations and
about the technology that was revolutionizing the industry. Skinner would help position
her as a future officer – in fact, the first female officer of Southern Bell.
One of the most challenging and developmental experiences to which Judi was exposed
was going to MIT (the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology) to pursue her masters degree. Sponsored by Southern Bell (which later
became BellSouth), Judi was the first woman recommended by the company for MIT’s
Management of Technology program. Moving her husband and young son, Zach, with
her to Boston for a year wasn’t easy, but she did it. About the experience, Judi said,
“MIT helped me realize what I had already learned as a leader as well as being a
tremendously broadening opportunity. Coming away from it, I think I was able to put
everything in perspective and to really see the big picture.”
Family and leadership
After MIT, Judi’s career would only accelerate. But something else was also going on
from a personal standpoint. Judi and her husband made a decision that he would stay
home with their son. This would give Zach at least one full-time parent, and it appeared
that Judi’s career would sustain the family financially. Judi credits becoming a mother
with helping her management style and keeping her grounded (she was actually married
11 years before her son was born.) She also acknowledges that having a supportive spouse – in her case a stay-at-home
spouse—was also beneficial. But Judi is quick to point out that this is clearly not
possible or necessary for all working women. What is important for career-minded
women and men is that good day care is available and affordable. Quoting Supreme
Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Judi said, “Whatever the price, having good day
care is more important than your salary and is the only way for a parent to have peace of
mind.”
Judi knows she missed out on some of her son’s activities, but doesn’t think it was a
problem for him. He and his friends came to understand the North family as one in
which the dad drove the carpool, not the mom! No big deal!!
Career progression – establishing a legacy
In 1989, Judi was promoted to an officer position with Southern Bell / BellSouth,a
position she would hold for 10 years. During her officer tenure, she would serve as
President of Consumer Services, the company’s largest business unit with as many as
22,000 employees before restructure, $8 billion in revenue, and $600 million in expense.
It was Frank Skinner who talked her into taking this position because of his own
experience in the business office environment. Judi was reluctant at first, but was quickly
won over by Skinner and later by the different type of leadership that was required and by
the people she would lead. Her older sister once told her, “I’ve been a service rep and
you better treat those people right!”
Armed with her sister’s admonition and influenced by Skinner’s own style of leadership
– charismatic and caring –Judi became one of the most admired officers in the company –
following in the model of her mentors, Skinner and Snelling.
It was BellSouth’s loss, and Video Conference Systems, Inc. (VSI)’s gain, when in 1999
with her career at an all-time high, Judi decided to step away to enter the entrepreneurial
world and run a company of her own. With her she took a successful leadership style,
years of earned credibility, a strong track record and impeccable credentials.
As of fall, 2002, Judi is no longer working for any company, but she’s keeping quite busy
with her board of directors’ position in at least four companies and with travels, reading,
and time with family and friends. Reflecting on her life so far, Judi is her usual selfeffacing self – not one to brag on her many achievements and awards, which include
membership in the Committee of 200, an exclusive organization by invitation only of
some of the nation’s top female executives; member of the International Business
Fellows; guest speaker at MIT for 12 years. What’s she proudest of? “Getting Zach grown.” In addition, she says, “I hope that in my
business career, I’ve made money for the companies I’ve worked for and that I’ve made
work life more enjoyable.” She feels good about how women she worked with supported
each other, but
also remembers when there was a “female and a male list of promotables.”
One of Judi’s regrets is that she was not able to push the concept of “job share” for
women and men to more acceptance and success. She believes that it is clearly possible
for job share to work to the benefit of the organization and the individuals involved. “It
could help ease some
of the tension and stress that leads people to complain about ‘work-life balance.’” Judi’s
personal advice to high-potentials: “Keep your own life balanced as it’s not up to the
company to do that.”
Another salient piece of advice comes from another “regret” – “I wish I’d been more
aggressive in the right way to push harder for certain things. Once you’ve established
your credibility and have good credentials, you can do that very effectively.”
Judi would also tell the next geneation of leaders to listen up: “If your style doesn’t fit
the company culture, it doesn’t mean that you’re wrong. You may have the right style
and can help change the culture…or, you might have to go somewhere else where your
style does fit.”
“Women are setting the bar these days in many corporations.”
“Having had the experience of both large and small business, I’d say a mix is the
best…preferably small, large, and small again. You can take a lot of what you learn in
the different settings and use it in the other to great advantage.”
“As for serving as a member of the board of directors for a public or private company,
my experience is that it’s reinforcing…of what you know…and it also allows you to learn
from other leaders with whom you ordinarily would not come in contact. I’ve learned
different approaches to problems and situations, different questions to ask, etc. If you are
the only one of a kind on the board (male, female, minority, etc.), I believe it helps a
board by your being there. It brings clarity. It also helps women in the organization if
they see a woman director…and I’ve found that many of the male executives want to
introduce me to the female managers in their companies. Serving on a board is not just a
position for me…I do it because I want to make a difference on that board.” According to those who know her, there’s absolutely no doubt that having Judi on your
board or on any project you’re involved in is an asset. Everyone can benefit from her
integrity of character and amazing insights. If only all next generation leaders – male and
female – could have a Judi North as their mentor!!