Leading Employees to Professional Fulfillment with Theresa Alesso, President of Sony Electronics’ Imaging Products and Solutions Americas Division

This episode features an interview with Theresa Alesso, President of Sony Electronics’ Imaging Products and Solutions Americas Division. She has been with Sony for over 30 years in various roles. In her current position as President, she’s responsible for sales and marketing operations for the company’s professional products and imaging solutions. In this episode, Theresa talks about supporting women in business, mentoring employees in their career journey, and leading them to professional fulfillment.

Quotes

*”Although our employees are all unique, we try to address all of them in a way that bridges those gaps and brings their uniqueness to the table. We focus on our employees, we focus on our business, and we focus on our culture. Because the uniqueness is what makes everyone special and then how we can elevate and ignite that, we do within this global behaviors framework.”

*”Your leadership can help provide mentor capabilities for you, can help give you an honest assessment of where your opportunities are and where your development areas need to be. Because no one's perfect. We all need to develop. But we own our own journey. So I think that's most critical.” 

*”If you own your journey–your life journey and your work journey–they're kind of integrated, you have to figure out what's going to make you happy and where you see yourself 10 years from now. As hard as that is to do, and then take the opportunities that are in front of you that help round you out, even if it's not your end-state and even if it's not a promotion. That's sometimes hard for people to hear, but it's so critically important, because some of the laterals that I personally took are what enabled me to sit in the chair that I'm in now. Maybe I didn't realize it at the time. So it's super important that people are open to moving laterally, gaining as much in their toolkit as they can so that when that next position to get that promotion comes, you can say, ‘But look, I've done each area of this business. I deserve the shot at this.’ Lateral is critical.”

*”Anyone, man or woman, can accomplish anything. But there are certain hurdles, women in business have to plow through or jump over. And I love to be able to tell the story, inspire other women, that they need to speak up for themselves. You may never a hundred percent be qualified for any job, but you've got to believe in yourself and put your name out there. Otherwise you'll watch everybody pass you by if you don't take some risk.”

Time Stamps

*[3:44] The Flight Plan: Get to know Sony Electronics

*[10:20] First Class: Best EX practices at Sony Electronics

*[31:27] Turbulence: EX lessons learned

*[38:34] Advice for other EX leaders

Links

Connect with Theresa on Linkedin

Check out Sony Electronics’ IPSA Division

Thanks to our friends

This episode is brought to you by Firstup, the company that is redefining the digital employee experience to put people first and lift companies up by connecting every worker, everywhere with the information that helps them do their best work. Firstup has helped over 40% of the Fortune 100 companies like Amazon, AB InBev, Ford and Pfizer stay agile and keep transforming. Learn more at firstup.io