Nicoletta Bleiel: Questions & Answers
Nicoletta Bleiel
Director Questions & Candidate Answers | Member Questions & Candidate Answers
Describe your governance or leadership philosophy, skills, and experience. Provide an example of a situation where you applied your philosophy to address a challenge, and the result.
I think the desire and courage to innovate is the foundation of leadership. Leaders always have to keep an open mind for new ideas and apply those ideas in the appropriate situations. Creative problem solving also requires innovation. But innovative ideas often require changing the status quo, so it is just as important to be as willing and able to defend an idea as to develop it.
I once worked at a software company that had a large staff of trainers who trained via the web, all day long. They all taught concepts a little differently. In addition, all of them kept their product “tips and tricks” information in their own binders. I wanted to gather all this knowledge into one place, cut down on training time, and keep the trainers informed about fixes, workarounds, and upcoming releases.
Working with the development department, I decided to try something that software developers had been using for a few years – a wiki. We chose software, and got the project rolling. I developed a structure and we promoted it to the management first and then staff. Everyone was skeptical at first, but after several demos that showed how useful it was, it was a win. Information was stored in one place, and I could use the information gathered to improve the documentation set.
A strong indicator of future success is past success. What positions have you held that involved the responsibilities of the office you are seeking, what specific responsibilities were assigned to that position, and what was the result of your efforts?
Currently, I hold the office of director, so I have more than two years of firsthand experience with the position and its responsibilities. As a director, I am heavily involved with strategic planning and budgeting, as well as some tactical management.
No one person can take credit for the strategic work of the entire Board, but I will note that because the Board is responsible for making decisions about the direction and goals of the Society, I have been involved in those tasks. The past year has been a challenging one and required a great deal of analysis and effort, and I believe we faced that challenge successfully. Positive outcomes have included new publications and educational opportunities and products.
As for tactical management, one of my Board responsibilities is the Recognitions area, and I worked with the staff and committee heads to identify efficiencies and implement them, as well as drive some new initiatives forward, such as the Member Logo program.
STC’s board members must think strategically about the Society’s future goals and objectives, while maintaining fiscal viability in a changing landscape. What experiences have prepared you for the strategic planning and fiscal oversight required of a board member?
I have always approached challenges strategically and then worked out my tactical plan, but I’d have to say the best experience I’ve had in strategic planning and fiscal oversight has been as a current board member! My years of service have steeped me in this methodology—which means you have to set your goals and vision first, evaluate the benefits and risks, and then work out the tactical details—all while keeping an eye on the bottom line. Quite a juggling act, but it is the best way to map out where the Society should be in the short term, as well as one, two, and even ten years from now.
Project budgeting has often been one of my job responsibilities, and that experience has served me well on the Board, as we review detailed budgets and attend to other financial issues. My current board experience in this area has been invaluable, especially during these shifting times.
As an STC board member, there will be some demands on your time during normal business hours. Describe the corporate support or alternative resolution that you currently have in place to allow your full participation in STC board activities.
Because ComponentOne supports the technical communication profession in a number of ways, I have full corporate support for my STC board activities, which I greatly appreciate. That being said, on meeting days I usually arrive at work early and leave later to make up the time spent.
Provide an example of a time when your integrity was tested and prevailed.
Maintaining the integrity of our profession can sometimes be challenging.
In one case, I went on a customer visit, and discovered that some of the user assistance deliverables for a product were not being used or were not discoverable, so I reevaluated the entire user assistance set and presented my suggestions for improvement to the development manager.
I thought he’d be pleased, but he wasn’t initially. In fact, he was sure I was wrong. My suggestions meant changing “what we’d always done,” which was the strategy he had initially laid out.
I put together a report listing what I’d seen while watching our users work with our product in the field. I noted the things I overheard them say about the system. I also gathered the opinions of trainers and others in the field. Along with that, I listed the changes I wanted to make, plus what impact they would have (how much work would need to be done by others).
In the end, I was able to make about 80 percent of the changes I wanted to make. Some of the changes had the added benefit of saving money. Many users remarked they loved the improvements and didn’t know that it could be done. Most importantly, we improved the customer experience.
What are your personal reasons for wanting to serve as Director?
The past two years I have served on the Board have been interesting, challenging, and important. Interesting because I have learned a great deal, challenging because of the hurdles faced, and important because the Society is at a critical juncture right now. I’d like to continue to serve as a Director so I can see a number of initiatives through and continue the momentum. And with my (by then) three years of experience, I can hit the ground running. My experience is valuable, and I’d like to use it to continue serving STC.
Nicoletta Bleiel
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