Kathy Mazzarella
Kathy Mazzarella (CEO of Graybar)
** Please note that when this interview was released, The Takeoff was called ExecU Weekly. We have since rebranded to The Takeoff. **
Welcome
Today's interview is awesome! We've interviewed the CEO of a Fortune 500 company (this is a first for ExecU Weekly!)
Please feel free to leave feedback by filling out this survey - we would greatly appreciate your opinion on our first few releases!
Name: Kathy Mazzarella
Current role: Chairman, President and CEO of Graybar
Previous organizations and roles:
I have worked for Graybar my entire 39-year career, starting at age 19. My career path is outlined below:
January 2013-present: Chairman, President and CEO
June 2012-December 2012: President and CEO
December 2010- June 2012: Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
March 2010-December 2010: Senior Vice President-Sales and Marketing
April 2008-March 2010: Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing-Comm/Data
December 2005-April 2008: Senior Vice President-Human Resources and Strategic Planning
January 2004- December 2005 Vice President-Human Resources and Strategic Planning
Elected to Graybar’s board of directors in 2004
2001-2004 Vice President-Strategic Planning
1998-2001 Vice President-Corporate Accounts and International
1997-1998 Director of Sales
1994-1997 National Product Manager
1992-1994 District Marketing Manager, Commercial and Communications Markets
1991-1992 Field Sales Manager
1984-1991 Senior Sales Representative
January 1980-1984 Customer Service/Sales (San Francisco)
Education (undergrad): National Louis University (Associates Degree, Telecommunications Engineering); Webster University (MBA)
I am a firm believer in the importance of ongoing education and have also completed the following executive education programs:
Harvard Executive Education Program – Making Corporate Boards More Effective
University of Michigan – Strategic Human Resources Leadership Executive Education Course
Harvard Business School – Board Development Series, Compensation Committee Course
Stanford/Wharton/Chicago Booth GSB – Directors’ Consortium
Kellogg School of Management – Women’s Senior Leadership Program
Please discuss your current company, what it does, and your role within the organization.
Graybar is a fascinating company that will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2019, as well as 90 years of employee ownership. I have worked for the company for nearly 39 years, and am proud to lead the organization as Chairman, President and CEO today.
Graybar is a FORTUNE 500 distributor with more than 8,500 employees, 290 locations across North America and $6.6 billion in annual revenue (2017). We provide electrical, communications and data networking products, as well as innovative supply chain management and logistics services. Our products and services support new construction, infrastructure updates, building renovation, facility maintenance, repair and operations, and original equipment manufacturing. We serve approximately 145,000 customers in the construction market, the commercial, institutional and government (CIG) market, as well as the industrial and utility markets.
Graybar is one of the oldest and largest employee-owned companies in the United States. We offer a unique employee value proposition and a culture where ownership, integrity, a long-term perspective and a passion for our customers really do make a difference.
At Graybar, we have a long history of innovation in serving the needs of our customers. Looking to the future, my goal is to position Graybar as a leader in digital innovation by building the culture and capabilities to reimagine the value of distribution and transform the supply chain for another 150 years of success.
Do you have any favorite hobbies or passions? How do you spend your free time?
I enjoy reading and cooking. I also enjoy traveling around the world with my daughters. We’ve visited a lot of very interesting places, and they are always ready for a new adventure.
Educational Questions
Do you have any advice for college students?
While the conventional wisdom has been to tell students to “follow their passion” in choosing a career, I would suggest that you seek out opportunities instead. It’s great to be passionate about something, but this can limit your thinking and may not always be practical. If you focus on seeking out opportunities, I believe you will become passionate about things you never imagined, and you will build new skills that make you more successful for the future.
One example from my career was the decision to accept the role of VP of Human Resources at Graybar. I viewed myself as someone who was passionate about sales and growth, and HR did not fit with that path. However, I took the job, and it was probably one of the best moves I made in my career. I learned a lot about our company and gained a whole new appreciation for our people and how they contribute to Graybar’s success. By pursuing this opportunity, I was better equipped to take on subsequent leadership roles, including the position I hold today.
And remember, you can always follow your passion outside of work by getting involved in your community and connecting with others who share similar interests.
Do any industries stick out to you in today's economic landscape? Are there any majors/career paths that you recommend today's college students to pursue?
Speaking from experience, there is significant opportunity in the construction industry. Our contractor customers are always looking for talented people to work in the skilled trades, as well as in more advanced engineering, management and construction technology roles.
Technology in general is a great field to pursue—anything from software and web development, to data science and analytics. Related to that, digital strategy and marketing offers many opportunities for career growth.
Healthcare is another field where students could expect to find opportunities, both in clinical roles as well as in healthcare technology.
Does your organization offer any internship opportunities? If so, feel free to discuss these programs or provide a link/contact for students to find out more information.
Yes, Graybar offers rotational internship program that allows college juniors the opportunity to learn all aspects of wholesale distribution.
We look for juniors majoring in a business related degree, preferably with an emphasis in Professional Sales, Supply Chain, Industrial Distribution, or similar. We also accept IT students. Candidates must be in excellent academic standing and be able to work full-time in the summer for 10-12 weeks.
Graybar interns receive valuable, hands-on work experience, professional networking opportunities and exposure to many aspects of our business. Students who successfully complete the internship program are evaluated for full-time employment opportunities after the conclusion of the internship.
To apply and learn more about the opportunity, visit Graybar.com/careers
What made you interested in being one of ExecU Weekly's early interviewees?
I was excited to share my story and, more importantly, Graybar’s story with the next generation of business leaders.
Are there any valuable skills or lessons you wish you had known in college?
My college path was somewhat unconventional. I started out as a pre-med student at the University of Rochester, and I hated it. After my first year, I dropped out. I didn’t have another plan, so I came home to California to figure out my next steps. It was then that I found a job at Graybar and started my career. I completed an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree and an MBA, all while working full-time and adapting to the changing needs of my family. This forced me to learn how to manage my time well, set clear priorities and ask for help when I needed it, and those traits have served me well throughout my entire career.
Do you have any additional advice or insights you'd like to give?
Never underestimate the importance of hard work and resilience in achieving success. To move forward in your career, you must give your best every single day and never settle for anything less.
I’ve also found that it’s extremely important to define success on your own terms. Often, people will make assumptions about you and tell you what they believe you should do, but their ideas may not always align with what matters most to you in the long term. Listen to feedback from those you trust and consider what they have to say, but ultimately, you must have the courage to make the choices that are right for you.
In addition, it’s important to stay open to opportunities outside of your comfort zone. You may not be successful in everything you try, but people often learn more when they fail than when things go their way. Finally, don’t beat yourself up when you fail. People with a long track record of success often take failure personally. Instead, you should view failure as an opportunity to grow and become stronger, smarter and better for the future.
** PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR INTERVIEWS ARE EDITED FOR LENGTH, CONTENT, AND CLARITY**
Looking Ahead
Next week's interview: Jonathan Gass - CEO Nomad Financial
(Enjoying your ExecU Weekly experience? Please help us grow by spreading the word about ExecU Weekly!)
Sign Up Link: https://subscribe.execuweekly.com/subscribe