Emily Daly (Bargardi)

Emily Daly (Bargardi) has been at Siemens for over seven years, during which time her titles have ranged from intern to chief of staff. Her career trajectory reflects both her ambition and resilience (noted in a prestigious 2023 internal award) and the growth-mindset environment that drew her to Siemens in the first place. Today, supporting Dave Taylor, VP of Industry Strategy, Marketing, and Global Execution (ISME) at Siemens Digital Industries Software, Emily drives strategic initiatives, oversees day-to-day operations, and bridges communication between ISME and its stakeholders. I caught up with her to talk about leadership principles, the keys to collaborative work environments, and much else.

Can you tell me about your professional journey at Siemens?

I joined Siemens back in 2017 and have been part of the company for over seven years now. My journey began as an intern who was looking for exposure to a larger corporation with a significant mission and purpose. Siemens, with its long-standing reputation, seemed like the perfect fit. Back in the day, Siemens was renowned for its telephones, TVs, and consumer products in almost every household. Little did I know that I was stepping into a transformed, massive digital company.

I’d be remiss to say that I owe much of my career success to Dannielle Beaupre. When I was an intern on her Marketing Operations team, I was introduced to the Siemens Start It Rotational Program. This was a hot-off-the-press initiative designed for Siemens interns looking to secure a full-time role at the company after college graduation. ‘Start It’ is structured as an 18-month program with three rotations, six months each.

Because of this unique and passion-driven program, I spent time with three different teams in Detroit, MI, Cincinnati, OH, and Stockholm, Sweden, spanning from the birth of a global campaign to locally applied and executed strategies. It was an incredible opportunity to be immersed in a breadth of teams and admire the way we excel globally.

Upon our transition towards a SaaS-led business, announced in 2021, I took on a new endeavor as a Go to Market Program Manager on a team led by Scott Clemmons. With the invigorating state of the business, I was able to be a part of some awesome programs. If I could summarize what program management has taught me, it’s this: how can you motivate internally to then motivate externally? Certainly, I learned that rock-solid communication, agility, and initiative are key ingredients to the recipe. But motivating and inspiring as a team are where the results really shine through. We want our customers to feel as passionate as we are about how we are helping them and their business.

Fast forward to February 2024. After my experience in program management, I knew I wanted to continue inspiring and driving business programs. I am now the ISME Chief of Staff, reporting to Dave Taylor. My responsibilities encompass driving strategic initiatives and overseeing day-to-day operations in alignment with Industry Strategy, Marketing and Global Execution objectives. I will actively coordinate and facilitate collaboration across teams to ensure coherence with organizational goals. Additionally, I will serve as a central point of contact and liaison between ISME and its stakeholders, fostering stronger relationships. As part of my new role, I will act as a trusted advisor for the ISME organization. I truly feel that I am in the place that I am meant to be.

What is the Start It Rotational Program?

Rotational programs have become increasingly popular among companies in the past five to ten years. Siemens aimed to provide a comparable (although I think we completely knocked it out of the park) opportunity for recent graduates by creating a rotational program that lasted 18 months, comprising of 3 rotations at 6 months each. The Start It Program, however, had a unique focus tailored for Siemens interns who were graduating at the end of the year.

What stood out to me about the program was its customized approach. At 20 or 21 years old, it can be daunting to be asked, “What do you want to do?” The Start It Program accommodated both ends of the spectrum, whether you had a clear career path in mind or were still exploring options. For those uncertain about their direction, like I kind of was, the program provided the flexibility to express areas of interest and seek guidance on where to best contribute. It’s an awesome experience to be able to figure out what you want to do and test out various teams, with the goal of getting a permanent position after this.

What was your experience going through the program?

My first rotation was with the campaign lifecycle management team, which was all about the design of campaigns and overseeing their multi-stage process. This rotation was based in Detroit, MI, or “home base” for me. It was exciting to kick things off in my home state! My next rotation was down in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the Milford office with the global campaign execution team. What’s satisfying about this is where the campaign design work leaves off and the campaign execution work starts! My program slowly started to thread together these core functional pieces that make up one marketing engine, as I like to call it.

Finally, I went on to do a field marketing rotation in Stockholm, Sweden. Another core piece of the engine… the local countries! Our business establishes itself both globally and locally. I was able to investigate the lens through which field marketing teams execute business in their own unique fashion. Nothing shows the beauty of culture and respect more than this experience at Siemens. I think about my time there very often. It challenged my inner wanderlust; being in a country alone intimidated me at first, even though I love to travel. It was a personal growth milestone that I will forever look back on and simply smile at.

Once I returned to reality, it was time to digest and summarize my 18-month experience. Where on earth do I start?! It is one of those experiences where you get a fresh notebook to tell the story. Upon completion of the program, I started a full-time, permanent position on the campaign lifecycle management team (the first rotation team). This team provided the bird’s-eye view that I naturally use in solving problems and brainstorming ideas. It was a fantastic (official) start to my career. What I really love about it is that they have kept and maintained a personalized kind of custom experience. Still today, Start It members can craft their own program, and that’s what I think is so cool about it.

Can you tell me about the GSM HIT Award that you received in 2023?

I received the How Award for the Global Strategy and Marketing organization. It was truly the highlight of my year and still brings me excitement to this day. I feel so honored to be alongside the talented people who have won in the past. I am incredibly fortunate and appreciative, and I was so surprised!

Having the opportunity to hear from both Scott Clemmons and Mark Bulger was incredibly rewarding. We communicated every day, and with so much happening, it was special to hear their insights. I am sincerely honored and thrilled to now be part of the How Award crew. I am truly grateful for this recognition.

What is one belief that you’ve had your whole life that you think has helped you become who you are today?

I am a firm believer in kindness and compassion. These virtues are essential for fostering human connection and perseverance, especially during challenging times. The impact of kindness extends both ways—it empowers us while also spreading love to others. There’s undeniable value in having individuals who radiate positive energy within a project or team. Their influence tends to uplift everyone around them.

Throughout my life, I’ve held onto the principles of being kind and looking out for others. These beliefs are particularly evident in my leadership experiences. Even in the face of adversity, I find myself leaning into these beliefs. When challenges arise, maintaining a positive outlook comes naturally to me. I strive to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable and united in purpose. We share the same goals, mission, and vision, and it’s crucial to communicate openly and support one another. These principles deeply resonate with me and guide my approach to teamwork and leadership.

Quick takes

Do you have any movie, book, TV or show recommendations?

During the holidays this past year (2023), my parents had us all watch Doris Day and Rock Hudson movies. There was something so quaint and wholesome about these movies from the 1950s and 1960s. It was a great way to get the family together and let time slow down.

What is one technology that you could live without, and one technology that you wish they would hurry up and invent?

I could live without GPS. I am unusually good at understanding where I am and remembering directions. I wish they would invent a better way for shopping returns. There is nothing I despise more than making returns.

If you chose one song to play every time you walked into a room, what would you choose and why?

I have two sides. 80’s music me = Head Over Heels by Tears for Fears, 2000’s me = Anything Pitbull.

Which three famous people, dead or alive, would you invite to a dinner party?

Steve Martin, Jennifer Aniston, and Heather McMahan.