Marillyn Hewson on diversity and inclusion
From Marillyn A. Hewson, Lockheed Martin Corporation, 2014 Catalyst Awards Dinner · · Catalyst
“We believe that diversity drives innovation and that's why we put so much into that in our company because each one of us brings a perspective to the job that's based on who we are as individuals. We found that the best ideas, the greatest innovations that happen are when we have individuals and teams that seek out different thinking, they seek out different perspectives.”
On , Marillyn Hewson, Former Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer at Lockheed Martin, spoke about diversity and inclusion during Marillyn A. Hewson, Lockheed Martin Corporation, 2014 Catalyst Awards Dinner on Catalyst.
About Marillyn Hewson
Marillyn Hewson, former chairman, president, and CEO of Lockheed Martin, announced during a May 2020 investor conference that Jim Taiclet would succeed her as president and CEO on June 15, 2020, with Hewson moving into an executive chairman role. She described the company as "very strong and stable" with a record backlog of approximately $144 billion, and stated that Taiclet, who had served on Lockheed Martin's board for over two years and had a military background, was a good fit for the company's culture. During the same call, Hewson noted that the company had reduced its sales outlook for the F-35 program by about $375 million due to COVID-19-related supply chain disruptions, and that it had accelerated payments to suppliers. In earlier public remarks, Hewson discussed her personal background, including growing up in a family led by a widowed mother and funding her own education at the University of Alabama, where she earned undergraduate and graduate degrees. She frequently spoke about the importance of innovation, citing Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works legacy and programs such as the F-35 and hypersonic technologies. Hewson also emphasized the need for STEM education and diversity in the workforce, stating that "bringing together people with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives drives innovation and delivers business results." She described Lockheed Martin as a "national asset" and said she was "humbled" to serve as its first female CEO.