Executive for a Day

Student trades places with IBM's Tom Smith

By Ross Mason

A high point in student Ross Mason's "switch day" with IBM executive Tom Smith was an opportunity to talk with company officers about their attitudes concerning work.

It was a terribly busy day. The Student Government Association office was swarming with two or three of the latest controversies. Students were calling excited and upset. As I walked over to the Student Center John Boone, a member of the Georgia Tech Student Foundation, asked me to buy a ticket for a chance to trade places for a day with an IBM executive. I bought a ticket to help the foundation with its fund-raising effort. A week later, John called and told me I'd won. It was one of the best experiences I've had at Georgia Tech.

W. Thomas "Tom" Smith Jr., IM '69, vice president and area general manager for IBM, and I met at Junior's for breakfast on Feb. 27 with some officers from the student foundation. Smith is the senior state executive for IBM in Atlanta, responsible for marketing and service for customers in the southern area. Smith continues to be actively involved with Georgia Tech, serving as a member of the Institute's National Advisory Board and the Georgia Tech Research Corporation.

Smith's office--my office for that day--is on the 22nd floor of the IBM Tower, overlooking Atlanta. I looked down at Tech. It was amazing that something that now appeared so small and distant could be such a source of academic struggle and frustration. The office was filled with photographs of famous people, memorabilia, a proclamation of recognition from the governor, and a photograph of Smith, with both thumbs up, finishing the New York Marathon in 3 hours, 50 minutes and 52 seconds.

We went through his computer mail. It was fascinating. Included on his schedule were golf matches with the CEO of one company and the chairman of the board of another. Secretaries rushed about and would occasionally pop in to ask about his schedule three months, six months or a year in advance.

The office had scheduled five or six meetings for me with the heads of different departments. During the meetings, we talked about IBM's future, and how both the market and IBM's image are changing. IBM salesmen are more personal in marketing their products. Words like "empowerment," "quality." and "positive attitude" continually came up throughout the day. I was impressed at the loyalty and confidence in the company that I saw in everyone. I believe the most important opportunity the day offered was to talk to these executives not about IBM, but themselves. I asked them if they were happy, if they felt like what they were doing was making a difference.

A high point in my day was meeting with Anne Kramer, the director of external affairs for the southeastern United States. She is also chairman of the United Way in Georgia, and coordinates IBM projects across the Southeast with different charities.

I quickly discovered why Smith is vice president of the southeast. Simply put, he is the best. His area has led IBM in profits for the past nine years. He is a visionary and an effective communicator--relating profound principles in simple words. He also has a dependable network that keeps him informed. I was able to see that in action, sitting in on conference calls that came from area directors from all over the U.S. It was fascinating to glimpse firsthand how a $3 billion business (Smith's area) works. I think I learned more that day about the business world and how it operates than I have in my five years of classroom work at Georgia Tech.