A TBM Journey of Gratitude

Throughout my career in TBM, I've worked alongside remarkable women who have shaped my understanding of IT, Business, and Finance. These women have enhanced my understanding of people within organizations and pushed me to approach Technology Business Management holistically and intuitively. As we celebrate Women's History Month, I'm reflecting on how these female leaders have influenced my approach to connecting siloed organizations and bringing diverse teams together.

What I've consistently observed from these women is their exceptional ability to navigate complex organizational landscapes while keeping both business outcomes and human impact in clear focus. Having spent most of my career in large organizations, I've witnessed firsthand how contentious departmental relationships can become the biggest obstacle to TBM success. The technical implementation is rarely the challenge—it's getting everyone aligned despite competing priorities and incentives.

The data supports what I've seen in practice. According to the TBM Council, cross-functional TBM teams achieve 15-20% greater cost optimization results compared to those with IT-only governance. Gartner research reinforces this, showing that CIOs who successfully break down silos between IT, Finance, and Business units extract 40% more value from their technology investments.

In today's technology environment, these women leaders have excelled at creating a common language and shared understanding across departments. They've demonstrated that effective TBM isn't just about frameworks, methodologies, and tools—it's about bringing people together around a shared vision of how technology delivers value.

The Shared Wisdom of Women in TBM

As I've observed and learned from these remarkable women in the TBM space, several powerful themes emerge that transcend individual accomplishments. Their approaches reveal valuable insights for anyone working to transform how organizations manage technology investments.

Building a Common Language Across Departments

Creating a shared understanding between historically disconnected departments is one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned from the women in TBM.

Carolyn Gehrke's work at John Deere exemplifies this approach. By transforming a $1 billion IT "cost center" into 450+ actively managed digital products, she didn't just change accounting labels—she fundamentally shifted conversations from expenses to value delivery. What impressed me most when interviewing her for the TBM Awards in 2023 was how she established the common language for IT costs, which over 500 stakeholders across the organization now use.

This emphasis on shared language and understanding enables organizations to move beyond the siloed thinking that often plagues technology investment decisions.

Transforming Culture Through Data Transparency

Beyond frameworks and tools, these women leaders have used TBM to drive significant cultural changes within their organizations.

When it comes to organizational cultural change, Frances Humphrey’s work at the U.S. Secret Service comes to mind. She introduced a standardized approach to IT governance that consolidated disparate data sources into a single repository. But the technical achievement isn't what's most impressive—it's how she navigated a culture innately averse to sharing information (I mean, it is the Secret Service) and transformed that mindset through transparency.

By providing trustworthy data that everyone could access and understand, Frances broke down long-standing organizational silos and instilled a culture of accountability. The agency's improved federal IT transparency scores tell part of the story, but the real impact was in how different departments began collaborating around a shared understanding of technology investments.

Community and Mentorship as Catalysts

Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of these women's leadership is their commitment to sharing knowledge and inspiring others.

Jenny Franklin's recognition as one of Apptio's most engaged community members reflects her commitment to collaboration. Though I've only met her in person once, her active participation in TBM community threads has helped me and many others solve challenges within our organizations. This dedication strengthens the community and advances the entire field—when one organization thrives in TBM, we all move forward.

Toyan Espeut, former Chief Customer Officer at Apptio and now fellow entrepreneur in the TBM space, has impacted countless TBM programs. I was lucky to have her as an Account Leader, and her emphasis on transitioning from theory to practice still resonates with me.

Honoring Their Legacy and Looking Forward

Through their various approaches and accomplishments, these women have demonstrated that TBM is far more than a technical discipline—it's a powerful connector between technology and business, a catalyst for cultural change, and a foundation for innovation and efficiency.

I'd be remiss not to mention a few other women who've shaped my  TBM journey. Leaders like Suzanne Chartol, Sheenal Patel, and Dawn Damico gave me early opportunities to explore TBM, rebuild models, fail forward, and develop my own approach. Their willingness to provide me with the latitude to test new ideas, practice leading before I was a leader, and grow confident in my approach exemplifies the collaborative spirit that makes our field so dynamic.

As we celebrate Women's History Month, I'm grateful for all the women who have shaped and continue to steer TBM's evolution—your contributions matter, your leadership inspires, and your willingness to share your knowledge elevates us all. Happy Women's History Month.