Sondra Barbour
Image: Lockheed Martin
Last year, defense contractor Lockheed Martin underwent a restructuring. A new CEO was named, followed by five executive vice presidents for each of the company’s major divisions. That was how chief information officer Sondra Barbour became EVP of Information Systems and Global Solutions. The new executive make up follows what Lockheed calls “Full Spectrum Leadership” a concept introduced in 2006 to promote top down corporate culture influence.
The job of a Lockheed Martin executive is to recognize change and shape company policies around how the change will work in the company’s best interest. Executives are measured for performance not only by delivering results, but also by leading future trends, increasing morale and embodying integrity and accountability. Barbour says she believes the full spectrum leadership model is working, because people make references using its text. When employees are using the ideas of corporate culture in everyday conversation it creates a positive effect.
Change leadership has been the biggest theme of Sondra’s new role, since she came on board as an executive while the company was still split into four divisions that never came together or communicated. Today, Sondra Barbour says Lockheed Martin is much more united and has stronger cohesion. She takes a two pronged approach to leadership. The first important thing to do is to identify the influential people on a team, and then establish the strongest communication systems with them. Communication is not enough, though. Messages need to be checked on consistently in order to make sure they are being received possibly. It is also important to seek feedback and keep a close group of trusted advocates and advisors for you as a leader. Owning up to mistakes and being honest with one’s self is also crucial to success.
Barbour has a double major degree from Temple University in computer science and accounting. She has spent more than twenty years at Lockheed Martin. She is married and has two children. While work and life balance are not something she says is not always possible, fulfillment is the key to a successful career. Having fun, working hard and being content are all parts of work and home life.
