Melissa Andrews ─ the ultimate team leader setting a high bar to help customers understand and gain the maximum value from technology.
February 9, 2021 • 3 Minute Read
Melissa Andrews
Solutions Engineering Manager, Army / COCOMs
Splunk
Are you looking for a next generation team leader who helps customers understand and gain the maximum value from technology? We know the person—Melissa Andrews!
Melissa has spent her career working with data. She currently manages the U.S. Army and its Combatant Commands sales engineering team at Splunk. With more than 20 years’ pre-sales engineering experience in selling enterprise software to the Department of Defense, she leads her team to help customers understand the potential of machine data and enjoys wearing very cool Splunky t-shirts.
Please meet this IT Wondrous Woman™, Melissa Andrews.
Our 10 Questions for this IT Wondrous Woman.
Fun Facts
1. What’s the one thing about you that your business colleagues don’t know about you?
My business colleagues don’t know that I have a minor in music, can sight read fluently for vocal performance and love choral performing.
2. Before the pandemic, how many air miles/KMs did you flying annually?
Before the pandemic, I flew about 50,000 miles annually.
3. What is the most adventurous food you have eaten and what city/location did you eat it?
The most adventurous food I’ve eaten is ackee - a Jamaican delicacy. I’ve had it in Negril, Jamaica, but it’s available at Jamaican restaurants in the U.S. I’m not a fan though. :-)
Your Career
4. What are the top two experiences, achievements or failures that shaped your journey as a successful leader?
Project managing the sale of the first Oracle Supercluster machine in the U.S. Army. This was different from my normal work routine at that time; I was brought in specifically to get two teams who didn’t particularly like each other to work together. I learned a lot about leading and managing egos.
A colleague advocated for me to not get fired during a reduction in force exercise at our company. I found out I was being reassigned and not losing my job, but it wasn’t until much later that I found out she’d engineered it. I learned the lesson of looking out for those around you and being a quiet influencer.
5. Did you have a mentor in the early part of your career and, if so, what is the biggest lesson you learned from your mentor or influencer?
I did not have a mentor, but I had two managers who advocated strongly for me - before I fully understood what it meant to have an advocate and why having one is essential for advancement. Both managers looked for ways to help me grow and expand my sphere of influence, and one helped guide me into management.
Walking In Your Shoes
6. What is one piece of business or career advice you would give to your younger self?
Move into management sooner. I realize now the need for women in management positions, but it was never something I considered for myself in my early days as an individual contributor.
7. As a leader, how do you remain a resource for people early in their careers?
I take advantage of opportunities to participate in training or mentoring roles for junior sales engineers, and I set up “check in” conversations to “see how things are going.”
Today’s Business Environment
8. What is the most interesting project you have worked on in the last few years?
We have a customer using a competing product who insists that our product isn’t a fit for them. Over the past two years, we’ve had to find creative ways to show them value, without attempting to replace the product they are currently using. It’s been extremely frustrating, but has also helped improve my patience and resilience as we’ve worked to stay relevant.
9. What skills are you currently developing or refining (in yourself) that will make you a more successful leader in the digital economy?
I am developing my feedback skills - both giving and receiving. I am specifically requesting feedback from my direct team and others I work with. This has not been easy for me, but I recognize the importance of it. On the giving side, I am working to ensure my feedback is specific and provides opportunity for improvement, if that is necessary.
10. What is your greatest business challenge today?
The biggest challenge I am facing today is figuring out how to stay relevant to our customers as COVID prevents us from traveling and participating in our traditional sales model.
