1. SYSTEMS ANALYSTS: numerous opportunities to do both. The firm operates in a high-performance culture
and bdieves in employing people with the skills and determination to deliver abm, e and
tion skills. Internship experience is an additional plus.
As a company of innovation, PTC encourages cre-
A BROAD AND VARIED CAREER beyond. As for what makes her a good fit for her job, Abraham states, "Being able to per-
form in multiple industries and relate opportunities to the strategic goals of the KPMG."
ative thinking and trying new ideas, both advanta-
geous to career advancement. O'Dormell's profes-
sional development strategy includes hard work and
PTC (PARAMETRIC TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION)- seeking out new assignments and projects to tadde
NO MATTER THE FIELD, SECTOR, OR FAST-PACED PROBLEM-SOLVERS with xigor. "Anytime you can help your department
eadquartered in Needham, MA, just outside of Boston, PTC Parameu-ic Tech- work faster, more efficiently, and be recognized by
INDUSTRY, SYSTEMS ANALYSIS IS A nology Corporation (PTC) is one of the worldg largest and fastest-growing other departments is a plus," she contends. "If you're
CAREER IN NEED WITH EMPLOYMENT software companies, delivering a complete portfolio of integral product that kind of person the systems and business analyst
lifestyle management solutions to more than 25,000 customers in the indus- sector is right for you."
EXPECTED TO GROW FASTER THAN trial, high-tech, aerospace and defense, automotive, consumer, and medical device
industries. With 6,000 employees located in 30 countries, it has been five years since SYNOPSYS--
MANY OTHER PROFESSIONS. WITH Tara O'Donnell, manager, IT business systems group joined the company. During LEADING BY INFLUENCE
APPROXIMATELY 24% OF SYSTEMS that time she has enjoyed new "challerlges, worked with every department, and had ith a workforce of approximately 6,800,
KPMGmNEW OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW an important and direct impact on business processes and revenue. Synopsys Inc. is headquartered in Mountain
ANALYSTS WORKING IN COMPUTER A graduate of Colgate University, O'Donnell majored in political science with a View, CA, in the middle of Silicon Valley.
ne of the nation's "Big Four" audit, tax, and advisory Ih'ms, New York City- double minor in economics and Asian studies, followed by an MBA from the Univer- According to Cleo Costello, senior director,
headquartered KPMG LI..P (wwa:kpmg.com) employs approximately 23,000
SYSTEMS AND RELATED SERVICES, sity of Hawaii. She additionally completed an internship with the New York State business operations, "Thatg just one of the masons
individuals at 87 offices across the country. For Mary Abraham, manager, busi- THESE PROFESSIONALS ARE HIRED AS Assembly "This position helped build my professional presence and confidence and Synopsys is a great place to work." Surrounded by
ness analysis, center of excellence, it w-as the l'u-m's reputation as an employer introduced rne to the formal working world," remarks O'Donndl who finds most 6,000 high-tech companies, scores of creative profes-
of choice, and its commitment to nurture individual talents while allowing employ- WELL BY INSURANCE COMPANIES, successful systems and business analysts to be innate multi-taskers and problm'n- sionals, and a plethora of resourcefl_fl entrepreneurs,
ees to experience new opportunities to grow, that drew her to KPMG two years ago. solvers who have the ability to communicate clearly and concisdy Silicon Valley is the number-one capital in technology
Assigned to the Montvale, NJ office, Abraham works with a wide range of col-
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, BUSINESS Noting that her interest in the systems/business analyst sector was recognized expertise. "It also has the good fortune of ethnic
leagues who give her a broad perspective of KPMG'S ability to meet client demands MANAGEMENT FIRMS, GOVERNMENT right out of college, O'Donnell adds, "These were the jobs where companies looked diversity, great weather, wonderful landmarks, and a
while serving the technical needs of the firm." for quick, last-paced, problem solvers." Just the right fit for O'Donndl, who enjoys magnificent quality of life," she states.
With an engmaeering degree in infonnation technology- from Calicut University in AGENCIES, AND OTHER BUSINESS tweaking inconsistencies and inefficiencies in business processes to save time and Having worked at Synopsys--a diverse company
India, Abraham's entry into the professional world brought her to Australia where increase monetary gains. with a complete suite of products spanning the entire
she worked as a mainframe programmer. "This position exposed me to analysis
AREAS. IN SHORT-JOB PROSPECTS FOR For O'Dotmell, the decision to join PTC, after working as a consultant Ior several design llowÿfor 14 years, Costello earned bachdor's
work, which I enjoyed and was good at," she recalls. SYSTEMS ANALYSTS ARE flOOD. },ears, was prompted by her brother, a 15-year PTC employee. Beginning as a business and master's degrees in systems and industrial engi-
"Transitioning from a development to an analysis team neering. She additionally completed extensive gradu-
led me to the U.S. and Fairleigh Dickinson University ate coursework in computer science and holds a Cer-
where I earned a master's degree in computer science." tificate in Advanced Program Management from
lLnytimeÿ you can help your department
Today Abraham's work encompasses both analysis says. "Not limiting concentration to a specific area Stanlord University.
and project services. "t must fully- understand, corn- allows more opportunities for lateral moves within work faster, more efficiently, and be Employed at other
1
municate, priofitize, validate, manage, and solve busi- the arena." Abraham cites strong analysis, decision recognized by other departments is a plus.'" major corporations I
ness problems, especially those in need of further making, communication, technology, problem solv- earlier in her career, ÿ ]
, analysis," she comments. ing, negotiation, self-starting and leadership skills as Costello worked in the
l Noting that the role and respolÿibilities of analysts at most necessary and includes paying attention to analyst w-orking on large projects, O'Donnell was next asked to define and institute field of artificial intelli-
i KPMG have evolved, she applauds the 2009 Ibrmation detail, willingness to learn new processes, being good processes and procedures for the IT department. Promoted to analyst group leader gence and on a team
Marg Abraham, of the office of the business analysis center of excellence at handling and meeting deadlines and having the prior to accepting her present position, she notes that her team of analysts work on all that won the "Malcolm
! Manager, Business Analgsis, (BACoE), which formalizes ,analysis tasks into structured
KPMfi and repeatable best practices. "Working with BACoE
leadership to further develop processes that ensure an
ability to be personable and engaging.
Recognizing the importance to balance personal
and professional lives, Abraham, a mother of two
systems used by the company--Oracle, Saba, and Siebel to name a few. "Our analysts
are fully versed on PTCg business processes and systems and are called upon to support
small and large enhancements to business processes and systems," she states.
Baldrige Award" in the
1990s. Co-author of a
white paper on soft- =ÿ
: ;ÿ'"ÿ,'-
/:_.i gÿ
equal level of quality throughout the organization is toddlers, appreciates having the opportunity for flex- With a firm belief that companies will continue to update business processes and ware defect classifica-
another component of my job," she adds. ible hours and alternative work arrangements. systems, O'Donnell sees her career as secure and in demand. "Those knowledgeable tion, she is a go-to-per- 0eo Costello,
Certain that the dernand for systems analysts is on the rise, Abraham says, "Orga- "KPMG provides an award-winrfing work environ- about a cornpany's current systems as well as industry best practices must addition- son for solving Senior Oirector,
nizations look for counsel recognizing, identifying and solving problems as well as for ment, challenging career development programs, ally demonstrate problem-solving, communication, and multi-tasking skills to be problems. "My experi- Business Operations,
collaborating and managing analysis practices." As the number of BACoE'S grows, she global opportunities, and the chance to work with successful, especially in the tedmology and software sectors where companies must ence allowed me to Sgnopsgs Inc
contends more organizations will see the value of internal system analysts. "In the some of the best and brightest people," she states. continually grow and advance in order to stay relevant," she remarks. develop managerial
past analysts worked in specialized niche areas, however, with the advent of the Although not currently invoNed in mentoring or Mentioning that PTC currently hires experienced business analysts, preferably those courage and the ability
BACoE they now fall under one umbrella facilitating a more general career path," she diversity programs, she understands that there are with Oracle Financial Module experience, O'Donnell adds, "PTC looks for specific to lead by influence," she comments.
financial experience in the particular applications needed, generally relying on Monster Recruited in 1996, when 5ynopsys was a fast-
and Dice for these searches." growing company with only about 900 employees,
BY BARBARA WOODWORTH New associates are typically recruited fi'om top colleges in the area, with the com-
paW looking for moldable graduates with excellent problem-soMng and communica-
Costello recalls, "I knew leaving a mega company
was a gamble, but a potentially rewarding one."
34 WINTER 2011/2012 * WORKFORCE DIVERSITY WORKFORCE DIVERSITY " WINTER 2011/2012 35

2. [ processes to better enable customers to achieve their
studies. Earning a master's degree in library and infonnation science fi'om the Uni-
versity of Missouri, Colurnbia, she initially chose to remain at the university's goals," she reports.
libraries as a full-time staff member, where she worked while completing her masterg Sha views a career in wstems analysis as a positive.
education. "It was here I became interested in inlor- "Thereg an abundance of growth potential in technol-
mation systems, data storage, and retrieval method- %'3; business, and managelial directions," she says
ologies, including content management and search mentioning that he role of the systems analyst
engines," she explains. "That interest and experience enhances people, process, and technical skills. Noting
paved the way for my move to systems analysis, the that this sector provides great opportunities to learn
I
! private sector, and Cadence." broad-spectrurn business processes and technologies,
i With Cadence her employer of choice, Sha today she adds, "Systems analysis helps individuals develop
- ", rmnains convinced that her dedsion was the right one. "I their areas of interest, solidify their professional back-
like the idea of wofldng for a company with global con- grounds, and advance up the corporate ladder."
nections and one that lives up to its reputation as a great For Sha, being immersed in a variety of technolo-
place to work," she states. gies and having the opportunity to explore and
Vianne Sha, Since starting at Cadence Shaÿ career has been on a implement various methodologies are aspects she
Senior IT Architect, roll. Prior to her current position, she worked in a particularly enjoys. "At Cadence there are opportuni-
Cadence Design Sgstems number of capadties, including application manage- ties for continual learning. Internal and external
ment, enterprise architecture, and client management, training expands my ability to see the 'big picture'
each allowing 1-mr to build on her knowledge, skills, and and increase program visibility--both important lot
expertise. Throughout her years at Cadence, Sha has worked--and continues to growing my career," she states.
work with a variety of teams on a myriad of projects. Hard work, the ability to listen, strategic thinking,
Her work on the business process re-engineering initiative is particularly inten- and an open mind are attributes she encourages in
sive as it focuses on maximizing IT investment returns. "As our customers face those she mentors. The recipient of several certifica-
numerous and rapid technological changes required for business growth, we at tions, including Six Sigma and ADle Scrum, she is a
Cadence must move fast to adopt this methodotog3, and apply it to our development strong proponent of conm-tued education. WD
Today, she provides executive-level support to top decision makers. "I plan, manage, Her advice to others is to seek out a good com-
and deliver high-visibility h-titiam, es requira'ÿg cross-functional collaboration," she explains. pany-like Synopsys---"with a strong ethical culture, a
By nacking and providing timely communication on the status of mission-critical projects, highly respected senior leadership team and talented,
she serves as the conductor of a harmonious Work flow in addition to being responsible ibr competent co-workers." She further emphasizes the
a wide-range of duties that lead to the good health of rise entire organization. importance to n-mintain a sense of humor and g-race
With numerous structured activities required to produce a product or specific under pressure. "As long as there are problerns to
service, Costello finds converting strategy into action requires the involverrmnt of solve, you will be needed," maintains Costdlo.
hundreds of employees. "My role requires identifying issues and maintaining con-
stant con'ununication with those with whom I work," she states, adding that persons CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS--
interested in business operations and systems analysis must be able to work on mtflti- GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
pie projects sirnultaneously and develop problem solving and analytical skills. She s senior IT architect at San Jose, CA-headquar-
enjoys job tasks that vary from day-to-day. "That makes my days interesting, engag- tered Cadence Design Systems
ing, and productive. On most days, I go home knowing I made a difference, that what (wÿ,ÿv.cadence.com), Vianne Sha is at the fore-
I do matters and that people appreciate my efforts," she says. front with roiling out the company's business
A leader of a pee>coaching circle at Synopsys, Costello applauds this program process re-engineering (BPR) program, a process
that pairs experienced personnel with potential fi.uure leaders. With her team improvement methodology that consolidates, stan-
located in Santiago, Chile, she coaches and fadlitates conversations that provide dardizes, and optimizes business practices. A global
feedback for solving professional and business challenges while enhancing individ- electronic design innovation compan); with 4,700
ual leadership skills. With many training opportunities available, Costello mentions employees, Cadence maintains sales offices, design
the company's lormal and mandatory classes for engineers, management training for centers, and research facilities in ] 9 countries. c0ttttt,,,,-"tt " ..... : .....
supeÿ,isory staff, and frequent forums that include discussions regarding the latest It was the companyg recognized excellence and
and greatest in technology breakthroughs. commitment to diversity that, in part, led Sha to
As a problem-soNer Costel]o sees the bigger picture, determines the solutions that Cadence l 1 years ago. "The California weather and
having family close by factored in as well," she , , '
work best, has the ability to envision the next smart move, and is able to pervasively
share that vision with upper management. Looking back on her 28-year profeÿional remembers of her move from a small Missouri town
career, Costello reports, "I've honestly eqoyed most ever}, day at work and I remain to the San Jose area. A native of Hong Kong, Sha
grateful, enthusiastic, energetic, optimistic, and ready for the dnallenges ahead." came to the U.S. after completing her undergraduate
36 WINTER 2011/2012 - WORKFORCE DIVERSITY WORKFORCE DIVERSITY * WINTER 2011/2012 37