A Leader-To-Be With A Diverse Background

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A leader in training. That's Carlie Hubert, who, in her 12 years in Wal-Mart's development services, an internal IS support group, has done everything from supporting distribution-center and financial systems to taking a project-lead role on the company's Y2K remediation efforts to reviewing IT systems for their applicability around the globe.

Today, Hubert, senior program analyst, is going through Wal-Mart's leadership-in-training program, which will make her eligible for a management position at the company. It's not guaranteed, but the single mother of two intends to prove herself in the required programs to get that promotion. As part of the program, Hubert will attend education classes that help employees learn more about Wal-Mart's culture and the fine art of managing time and employees. With the help of mentors, she'll also spend weeks working in a Wal-Mart store, a Sam's Club, and a distribution center to better understand customer needs and the business processes among Wal-Mart, its stores, and its suppliers.

"If I do everything in my power to accomplish a task where others can benefit, then I've succeeded," Hubert says. That's important as Wal-Mart keeps its eye out for the next generation of leaders who, as executive VP and CIO Linda Dillman puts it, can "execute like crazy."

Photo of Wal-Mart courtesy of Knight Ridder