Title: Business Unit Executive
Company: IBM
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom

Always mathematically inclined, Maria McDade became indoctrinated in the technology field by her father, who was fascinated by computers. He took the risk and invested his own time into learning everything he could about them, and enjoyed sharing his knowledge with others. After Ms. McDade applied for a position as a tape librarian, a position for media in the information technology department, she was hooked too.  Her path eventually led her to the technology giant IBM, where she currently serves as a business unit executive.

Ms. McDade considers her greatest strength to be her team; she loves taking young graduates and interns and helping them grow and flourish. She especially likes to encourage women to come into the information technology environment and to mentor them and help them find their perfect career path. As a member of The International Women’s Leadership Association, Ms. McDade would advise the younger generations to not be afraid to fail, but to learn from their mistakes.

To stay on top of her field, Ms. McDade has taken a variety of training programs at IBM. Information technology is constantly changing, so it is important to remain abreast of the latest innovations. Ms. McDade considers her greatest accomplishment to be lasting in IT for 29 years. There were some rough patches, but she is excited to see what is in store for the future of the field and to be a part of it. In recognition of her achievements and longevity, Ms. McDade was inducted into the 100-Percent Club at IBM in 2014.

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