Christine Seymour | Digital Thread Podcast | Momenta

Empowering Change:

Christine Seymour's 23+ Years of Innovation and Inclusive Leadership

We are thrilled to bring you a new episode of the Digital Thread podcast, where we delve into the minds of industry leaders and visionaries who have shaped the digital industry landscape. In this edition, Ken Forster interviews Christine Seymour, VP Strategy and M&A for Smart Infrastructure, Siemens Strategy.

Christine is a self-proclaimed "management consultant in recovery" who thrives on tackling commercial challenges with a blend of execution, creativity, and teamwork. With an impressive track record spanning over 23 years, she has held pivotal roles at renowned companies like Siemens, Honeywell, and John Crane. Her expertise is driving revenue growth, market share expansion, and transformative business strategies. She's navigated complexities, pioneered new service frameworks, crafted innovative business models, and ventured into uncharted waters to forge new market spaces. Along the way, she's revitalized marketing approaches, enhanced customer value, optimized sales strategies, introduced pioneering products, nurtured brand identities, and grappled with disruptive technologies.

Christine's enthusiasm extends beyond her achievements in the corporate realm. She's a passionate advocate for the future of digital transformation, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), smart infrastructure, interconnected supply chains, industrial software, and sustainable practices. Her commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) shines brightly, and she's been lauded as an exceptional leader who guides and mentors top talents and global teams to triumph.

In this episode, we delve into Christine's journey, exploring her unique perspective on management, innovation, and the ever-evolving landscape of technology and business. Join us as we uncover the wisdom and insights she's gathered along the way. Let's jump right in!

 Discussion Points:

• What would you consider your digital thread (the one or more thematic threads that define your digital industry journey)?
• You’ve long been an executive change agent across some marquee industrial companies. What attracted you to the industrial space?
• You seem equally adept at Marketing, Strategy, and General Management. To what do you attribute this professional dexterity?
• Your time at Honeywell is a good example of this dexterity, moving from CMO at their Connected Industrials group to Head of Strategy of the Connected Enterprise team. What was your remit across both roles and what are you most proud of?
• You recently took your next step up as VP Strategy and M&A for the Smart Infrastructure business in the US. You, of course, had a prior 14-year tenure at the company. What attracted you back to Siemens, and what is your key focus?
• Drilling down on your M&A role, what sectors and types of companies are you looking at these days?
• Of course, this is an interesting time to be in M&A in the digital industry space, given the macroeconomic factors and challenging startup landscape. How do you see this landscape compared to your earlier Strategy and Corporate Development roles?
• Industrial Automation is at an important crossroads, given reshoring, the energy transition, and labor challenges. What are the key trends you are watching relative to the future of industry?
• You’ve been a constant advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Can you tell us about this passion and how you’ve brought this to your companies?
• In closing, could you share where you find your inspiration and which books have inspired you most? (e.g., book recommendations, articles, podcasts, people, etc.)