Reference no: EM133180078
Carol B. Tomé, the Home Depot CFO Her job title at Home Depot Inc. is chief financial officer (CFO), but Carol B. Tomé has unusually broad responsibilities for someone in that position. She is also executive vice president of corporate services, and provides leadership to the company in the areas of real estate, store construction, financial services, strategic business development, and growth initiatives. Her areas of responsibility have been referred to as the central nervous system of the company. Prior to joining The Home Depot- one of the world's largest retailers-she was vice president and treasurer of Riverwood international Corporation. Tomé is also a member of the UPS board, and chair of the board of the Federal Reserve Board of Atlanta.
Tomé is widely recognized for her ability to get along with people inside and outside Home Depot. Yet she admits to having worked hard to hone her interpersonal skills. She says that she has never done anything to derail her career but that she has made a few mistakes. Being a passionate person, she has had to learn to channel that passion in ways that rally the troops. Tomé says, "I've also learned that it isn't about me; it is about everyone else. Putting people first is absolutely the right thing to do. I didn't always do that, but I do now. For more than eleven years, I've never lost anyone on my team that I didn't want to lose. I'm proud of that."
Tomé also explains that earlier in her career she was highly focused on the deal instead of people. One time she conducted a performance review with one of her employees over the phone. "The next day she quit, and who could blame her?" said Tomé. She also said that she could never repeat the mistake, and how she practices servant leadership, and always puts people first.
In her seventeen years with Home Depot, she is the only senior executive to work for all four of its CEOs. One CEO in particular, Robert Nardelli, had a difficult time in terms of popularity with the troops, and a substantial decline in customer satisfaction. However, during Nardelli's six-year reign, Tomé was promoted from treasurer to CFO, and her responsibilities expanded to include store operations and customer service.
Her colleagues say she has advanced by combining high-level intelligence with a passion to learn the business from the hammers and nails on up, including how to mix paint for a customer. Tomé tours at least one store a week, talking to customers and asking questions of store associates. Tomé is proud of her collection of ninety orange aprons (The Home Depot trademark) that employees decorated for her as a gift during store visits. Her favorite apron is one blinged out with sequins-the only such jewelry-decorated apron in the company.
Tomé was born in a log cabin hospital in Jackson, Wyoming. She holds a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Wyoming, and an MBA in finance from the University of Denver.
QUESTIONS
1. What evidence do you find in this story to suggest that Carol Tomé has good political skills?
2. What does having worked for four different CEOs without being replaced suggest about the effectiveness of Tomé's political skills?
3. Which types of power does Tomé appear to possess?
Answer in details