Do you see challenges as opportunities? So does Sheree. Get a glimpse inside her career with BAE Systems, and her recipe for growth and collaboration.

I remember being really nervous on my first day at BAE Systems. At the time, I was stepping into a Program Manager role at Annapolis Junction. I had the unique experience of having worked on the governments’ side of the house as a consultant, and I had been sought after for the role at BAE Systems for about 9 months. So although I felt ready to tackle my new role and confident it was the right move for me, I distinctly remember feeling those first-day jitters as I stepped into my new office.

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The Challenge

We typically associate the feeling of nerves with a negative experience, but to me, it made it clear that I was stepping into a role that would really challenge me. And that was a key part of the conversations I had with the team as I considered joining BAE Systems: I wanted to make sure I felt challenged. For me, feeling challenged is at the core of feeling like I’m engaged in my role. Sometimes we’re presented with challenges we can’t control – this year has been a prime example of that- and sometimes we seek out stretch opportunities to challenge ourselves. Either way, most of the growing we do takes place in the midst of the challenges we’re faced with.

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The Work

I can confidently say I have been challenged and engaged as my role at BAE Systems has evolved in the last 6 years. I came in as a Program Manager, overseeing a large government contract, and now my role has progressed to include all Maryland operations. As Director of Maryland Operations for our Intelligence & Security sector, my role is to oversee multiple contracts across Maryland, lead and support the Program Managers for those contracts, and step in as needed to keep things moving smoothly. Going from a Program Manager role to now acting as both a program manager and also overseeing all Maryland Operations has given me a unique perspective. I now have insight into multiple facets of the business, and can see how they all connect to the broader strategic vision of our sector. At the same time, it’s a very dynamic role and there is no day like the day before. I’ve enjoyed continuing to find new ways to connect dots and think outside the box. The reality is that there won’t always be a textbook answer to every problem. Sometimes, there's no canned response or one-size-fits-all solution. So I’ve learned to adjust and adapt to each situation.

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The People

I think the best part of my job from the time I got here up until now has been the people that I work with. You can get to a place where the work is more stress than it is fulfillment, but I have not felt that way, and a large part of that is due to the people that I work with. We really are a very cohesive team and we all work together to tackle any challenge at hand. We know each other’s strengths, and are comfortable yielding to the person that may have the most knowledge, expertise, or skillset relevant to what we’re tackling in that moment. This allows everyone to naturally elevate themselves or pull up to be the leader for that situation.

Another way my team has continually helped me grow is by always supporting me when I’m innovating, trying something new, or seeking to solve a unique problem. Sometimes that requires that I stretch myself outside of my comfort zone, and that’s not a comfortable feeling. But I always feel supported, even as I venture outside my skillset, and that has been key. I’m particularly thankful that this kind of support has allowed me to take on stretch opportunities and grow professionally.

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The Lessons

As grateful as I am for the team I have, and the lessons I’ve learned, I also think it’s important to see our work through the lens of how we can help one another. I had a mentor who happened to be my Calculus 3 professor. He always asked, “What did you learn today that you could teach somebody tomorrow?” I knew that he was going to ask that question every single time I saw him so I started to look for something each day that I could learn, that if you were to ask me, I could say, “well I learned this today.” And what you learn each day could be anything - it could be a discovery about yourself, or it could be a part of developing a technical skill. It’s about being intentional, and thinking about how your lessons can go beyond benefiting you and also helping others around you. So I encourage everyone to think about their work and growth through that lens. Be a sponge- try to learn as much as you can, and ask yourself how you may be able to pass that knowledge on to the next person.