Eileen M. Rudden

A native of Nutley, New Jersey, Eileen Rudden always loved math. So it was only natural that she spent her summers programming computers as an undergraduate at Brown University. “That was back in the mainframe generation,” says the energetic Rudden, whose career in technology has spanned various stages of computing evolution — from mainframe to personal computer to local area network to the Internet. After working in a grassroots community organizing project (“One of those social experiments,” says Rudden with her easygoing laugh) and running a Boston-area newspaper, Rudden came to HBS to gain the business skills she found she needed at the paper. Stints at The Boston Consulting Group and Wang were followed by a stellar fourteen-year career at Lotus, where Rudden ran the teams that developed Lotus 1-2-3 and Lotus Notes. At press time, having just spent a year as CEO of FairMarket, the mother of three was taking the summer off to spend time with her family and see “what bubbles up.” As to the future, Rudden anticipates heading another high-tech company: “Technology draws a great group of people who want to be in a complicated, fast-moving, risk-filled environment. I like to work with those types.”

Learned at HBS
A ton. I was totally smitten with the case method, and I learned so much about how people work in groups.

Role models
My high-school Latin teacher was incredibly creative and passionate: She had us drumming on bongos to hear the meter of Virgil’s poetry. I admire other female colleagues like Sandy Moose of BCG and June Rokoff of Lotus.

Best business advice
My good friend and sectionmate Brigid Sullivan told me I should be involved with something that taps into my passion.

Where the new economy is going
We’re in a major consolidation period right now. There was an explosion of innovation that now needs to be absorbed. But I don’t believe that, after this consolidation, there will be any letup in the pace of application of technology. There will be all kinds of appliances connected to networks that will enable systems and businesses to run more smoothly. I’m very excited about how technology will be applied in other areas — genetics, service businesses, health, education, and so forth.

How job has changed in last five years
I do a lot more coaching. The more senior you get, the more you work with senior people, and you don’t tell them what to do. You ask them questions, engage in dialogues.

Key elements in evaluating a business proposal
I look for something that has a major impact on the area that it’s supposed to affect — major cost savings, speed improvement, major time savings, or ability to do something new. Incremental stuff, unless it saves a lot of money, just doesn’t cut it.

Pro bono work
I’m on the board of Lesley University, which educates more teachers than any other institution in the United States, and I’m about to join the board of Brown. I really believe that public education needs to be substantially reformed in order to maintain equity in our society, so most of my volunteer activities have been in the area of education.

Hope for your kids
What more can you want for your children than that they find people to love and work that they are passionate about?

Biggest disappointment
That the only other female in my household is Ginger, a Jack Russell terrier. Three boys, a husband, no daughters — I’m the only woman here.

Proudest moments
Professionally, seeing Lotus Notes reach more than fifty million users. On the personal side, I am extraordinarily proud of my family — Josh and I have been married for 25 years, and our kids are great. As I mentor younger people, the fact that I have a rewarding home life is meaningful to them.