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More About Natalie Saiz Passing the Baton to the Next HR Director…
When I showed up to NASA’s Johnson Space Center as a Graduate School Cooperative Education Student in May of 1995, Natalie was assigned as my mentor. She already enjoyed a strong reputation as a leader in Human Resources, so I was fortunate to be able to work for and learn from Natalie.
So now, nearly 20 years later, this transition brings up a lot of feelings for me. Last weekend, I ran across the Leader to Leader Journal’s article entitled “Are you Humbitious enough to lead?”. “Humbition is one part humility and one part ambition,” they wrote. “We notice that by far the lion’s share of world-changing luminaries are humble people. They focus on the work, not themselves. They seek success—they are ambitious—but they are humbled when it arrives. They know that much of that success was luck, timing, and a thousand factors out of their personal control. They feel lucky, not all-powerful. [So] be ambitious. Be a leader. But do not belittle others in your pursuit of your ambitions. Raise them up instead. The biggest leader is the one washing the feet of the others.” So, how am I feeling about this “passing of the baton”? I’m humbled, honored, and nervous…but at the same time, Natalie has done all she can to prepare me for this…so I’m also excited about the opportunity and what the future holds.
I recognize first and foremost that you can’t replace a Natalie Saiz—she’s had a strong 11-year run as HR Director, taking our team and organization to new heights. Here are a few specifics that stand out to me:
Culture of Inclusion
Natalie is naturally a very inclusive leader. She also has a strong commitment to diversity & inclusion, as noted by her recognition with the Great Minds in STEM’s Santiago Rodriguez Diversity Award in October 2011. Natalie’s leadership caused me to explore my own “Diversity & Inclusion Incompetency” (read more about my journey here) more than I ever would have without her leadership. Natalie also joined me at a pivotal learning experience at the “White Men and Allies” training a few years back. With her leadership, inclusion & innovation are now woven in the fabric of our Human Resources Office culture.
Work-Life Fit
Natalie has always modeled a strong balance as a working mother of 3. In discussions about work-life, Natalie didn’t like the term “balance” because it’s difficult to achieve a true balance. Instead, she used the term “work-life fit” to allow individuals to make choices about what worked best for them. As a father of 3, I am extremely appreciative that I never had to choose between career opportunities and family commitments.
Teamwork
Natalie developed and grew a strong leadership team in the Human Resources Office. She worked to eliminate “silos” between organizations. Many of us moved to positions outside of our “expertise” to see a different perspective and grow as organization leaders. As a result, Natalie was always able to get that extra stretch from each of us.
Natalie definitely leaves our HR Office and our Leadership Team with some big gaps. Her exemplary career includes receiving NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal in 2008 and being placed on Human Resource Executive magazine’s HR Executive of the Year Honor Roll in 2009.
Other than a few short stretches here and there since I joined the organization in 1995, Natalie is who I’ve worked for…so it will be different for me reporting to Dr. Ochoa now…and I’ll have to keep the “Law of the Lid” in mind…
David: An Overcomer who Lifted Lids
This week’s devotions from the John Maxwell Leadership Bible share stories about Saul & David and the Law of the Lid. David, specifically, had many lids on his life—both internal and external—but they did not stop him:
1. His Family
David’s limitations started at home. When the prophet Samuel asked Jesse to gather all his sons, so God could reveal the next king of Israel, Jesse didn’t even think about inviting David. His brothers did not think much of him either and scorned him when David visited the battlefront. When David spoke up about Goliath’s blasphemy, his brothers insulted him and told him to go home.
2. His Leader
Saul continually tried to sabotage David’s leadership and effectiveness. In fact, he tried repeatedly to kill David. When David offered to fight Goliath, Saul responded, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him” (1 Samuel 17:33).
3. His Background
David came from a family of poor shepherds. His father, Jesse the Bethlehemite, lacked a lofty lineage. David wasn’t even the eldest son in his family; he had seven older brothers.
4. His Youthfulness & Inexperience
At the time Samuel anointed David, the boy had no experience leading anything but sheep. When he stepped forward to fight Goliath, others considered him “only a youth.” Time and again, people disrespected and underestimated David.
Ultimately, David became a great leader—but not because he had an easy life. He achieved much because he became a lid lifter.
Every leader has lids on his or her life; nobody is born without them. And they don’t disappear when a person receives a title, achieves a position, or gets invested with power. The issue is not whether you have lids, but what you are going to do about them.
For me, I’m thankful to have a mentor and sponsor who is a true “Lid Lifter”. Thank you, Natalie! You’ve definitely helped me shoot for the stars…