Najuma Atkinson has generated a career that is 20-year Dell Technologies Inc. early in the day this current year, she joined up with Dell’s Chief Customer workplace company since the senior vice president for client advocacy, insights & analytics, becoming Dell’s just African American feminine SVP plus one of few senior black colored ladies in technology.
Atkinson began her job in finance after earning her bachelor 
of arts level in political technology from Fisk University. In 1999, she took work at Dell as being a tech help manager but quickly transitioned to recruiting. She got a master’s level in organizational administration from Trevecca Nazarene University, and throughout the next 2 full decades she worked her way up from HR operations supervisor to vice president.
Now, she and her team have the effect of consumer information and analytics strategy, including making use of information technology to enhance the grade of Dell’s customer that is proprietary, developing items that monetize that information, and handling customer pain points. Right right right Here she shares how she became mostly of the women that are black technology to make the journey to her degree.
exactly just How do you begin your job?
We graduated from Fisk University with a technology level. But we went along to the industry that is financial they’re ready to supply any possibilities. Therefore I really struggled to obtain SunTrust bank first being an analyst. And that’s where i discovered that i’ve a proclivity for information, and information, as well as for figures. We found Dell Technologies once the front line tech help manager. At Dell, we were setting up our first call center outside of Central Texas, plus they desired leaders. They really didn’t care you had technical ability or ability. Nonetheless they desired to verify I had those that you had good leadership skills. And that’s the way I got the opportunity that is first. About eighteen months later on, we relocated into HR.
You developed a 20-year job in HR. Why do you choose create a change?
It really was a natural transition when you think about the skills. We started initially to seek out possibilities that will leverage those skills—how do I gather groups of an individual, making use of facts and information to resolve problems and create solutions that empower people and also make circumstances better? HR is some of those accepted places to get it done. But i desired to get it done for the client.
I had a way to see our main client officer, Karen Quintos, doing his thing. She ended up being speaing frankly about the task that she did within the broad company and I’m like, “Well, that is fascinating.” And so I is at a conference with Michael Dell, and I also took the ability. We stated, вЂвЂќYou understand what actually interests me personally, Michael? I do believe my next profession must be into the primary consumer workplace. I’m really thinking about that space, and I’d prefer to explore it more if I’m ever because of the opportunity.” Karen found out about that. And Karen is just one whom searches for abilities and abilities, definitely not work games, as she’s individuals that are adding her group. She felt like if this is one thing i needed to explore, i will be provided with that possibility.
The greater I interviewed while the more I talked to individuals, the greater amount of we said, “Yeah, this really is for me personally.” This can be a business that i do believe are at a pivot. It’s got broad, complex things that they’re searching at. And I also accomplish that perfectly. we just take the complex while making it truly, actually easy. That I had so that we could drive strategy for the organization so I was bringing the skills.
Atkinson during the Dell BE Smart pupil Symposium (Image: black colored Enterprise)
There’s a lesson that is huge in asking for just what you prefer.
What’s the worst which could happen, right? He could state, “Well, that’s very interesting” and then we’re able to replace the topic. Or he could pay attention. And that’s exactly just exactly what he actively seeks. He desires some people that have perspective and opinion, and go after what they’ll they want. That’s exactly what we is all about.
You’re effective at that which you had been currently doing. Exactly just What made you comfortable making that sort of jump?
I do believe those people that are effective are the ones being risk-takers, that understand that you might perhaps perhaps not understand every thing and also 100% for the response. But in the event that you’ve got like 70%, then chances are you is going because of it. Ended up being it a danger? It will be had been. I’d built my profession in HR, my credibility had been here, my successes were there, nearly all of my sponsors are there. I happened to be likely to be entirely stepping outside of that and going far from those relationships and that support to use one thing brand brand new. During the time that is same absolutely absolutely nothing ventured, absolutely absolutely absolutely nothing gained.
I was, I could continue to do really great work if I stayed where. But would that be great for Dell? Ended up being it the thing that is best where i possibly could end up being the many impactful? You can’t be had by them play little, and let’s be No. 1, appropriate? We can’t pursue share of the market, be successful, if individuals perform little. That is an unique environment in it truly lets you be empowered also to decide to try items that has not been tried. That’s exactly exactly what innovation is focused on.
It may be hard for black colored feamales in tech. Exactly just What challenges have actually come especially with making the change into this part?
One of many interesting challenges is credibility whenever you make use of very people that are technical. We assist Ph.D.s, information boffins. They reside and breathe information, they artwork techniques, they build infrastructure, they are such as the big brain, Mensa people. And that’s maybe perhaps not whom i will be. And that’s not the thing I bring into the dining table. But I’ve worked quickly to create credibility, and i did so it when you’re authentic. We shall never ever be just like you’re in that area. And we don’t should be. Here’s where i believe We have value.
Then heading out there and finding out exactly what are everything we have to go after, and synthesizing that into 2 to 3 key actions that align into the general eyesight of my frontrunner. Those are my biggest challenges at this time. I’m on a paying attention tour. I’m speaking to my key stakeholders and our clients. And I’m like, “What do you really need from us? just how can you are helped by us? exactly What have actually we done efficiently? And just just what do you need to see differently from us?” This will be a breeding ground that moves extremely fast. Therefore I know that i must quickly pivot and go on to action. They want you to make an impact when you’re at a senior level. This is why they place you into the work.