In a tenure of seven years, Marillyn Hewson increased Lockheed Martin's share price to nearly 300%. Programs like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, expansive tactical and strike weapons sales, and new markets like hypersonic weapons saw a massive growth under her leadership. After serving the company as the president and CEO since 2013, Hewson is set for a leadership transition. She will helm the role of executive chairman of the board of Lockheed Martin from June 15, 2020.
Hewson held executive positions including president, CEO, and Executive vice president of electronic systems business area during her 37 years at Lockheed Martin. On the news of transitions, Hewson said,
"Starting a new chapter in anyone’s career draws mixed emotions, and that’s especially true for me now. But throughout my career, I have embraced change."
In 2019, TIME magazine identified Hewson as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World," and FORTUNE magazine ranked her No. 1 on its list of "50 Most Powerful Women in Business" for the second year in a row. In 2018, she was named the "CEO of the Year" by Chief Executive magazine, a Top 10 "Businessperson of the Year" by Fortune magazine, and one of the "World's 100 Most Powerful Women" by Forbes.
Marillyn Hewson's untold journey
Marillyn Hewson comes from Junction City, Kansas, United States. Her parents Warren Adams and Mary Adams met during the Second World War. When Marillyn was 9 years of age her father died and the responsibility to raise 5 children dawned upon Mary Adams. Marry rose to the occasion, she made sure to give good education, nutrition, livelihood to her children. She took up part-time jobs, worked overtime for extra money, taught her children the importance of every single dollar spent. Marillyn closely observed her mother's struggle. She learned to save and cost-optimization from her childhood. Her mother taught her the skills of maximum return from minimum investment. As a kid, her mother divided house responsibilities to her 5 children and encouraged them to always look after one another. Marillyn was in charge of groceries; "she used to hand me a$5 bill and a $7 shopping list, and say, 'I know you’ll make the right decisions.'” These responsibilities made the children stronger, wiser, and more self-reliant.
Hewson, therefore, credits her mother's resilience, hard work, and determination by teaching her leadership skills. She wrote, in "A mother's resilience", for Politico, in 2013, that "My mother did what all great leaders do: she sparked the growth of future leaders."
"My mother did what all great leaders do: she sparked the growth of future leaders."
In 1983 Hewson joined Lockheed Martin after 4 years as an economist at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Since then there was no looking back. She carved her journey from pillar to pillar and took Lockhead to new heights. Her achievements, her struggles, her persistence, and resilience makes her the woman of inspiration. She is a fitting example of strength, vision, and leadership. In our weekly edition of women supporting women we bring to you the leader who led from the front: Marillyn Hewson
Marillyn A. Hewson was the first female chief executive officer and president of Lockheed Martin, an aerospace and defense contractor.
In our weekly edition of women supporting women we bring to you the leader who led from the front: Marillyn Hewson
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