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Our 10th Anniversary Women of Distinction

Susan Kuruvilla, CEO

By Mimi H. Cook

Photo by : Adriana Zuniga

S CEO of Managed Solution, Susan new things, so I need a position that chal-
AKuruvilla, is running a successful IT lenges me every day." Six months into the
Service business in the exploding South- job, she is exceeding expectations while
ern California marketplace. Speaking learning and growing professionally. Man-
with this vivacious, intelligent, and con- aged Solution is poised for tremendous
fident executive, you can easily learn why growth, and she is tasked with balancing
Ms. Kuruvilla is admired by her peers, the incline of rapid development com-
respected by her employees, and has bined with spearheading swift changes in
reached the pinnacle of her career. Ms. processes. "I love my job. Working with
Kuruvilla was born outside New York Sean Ferrel, Chairman and Founder of
City and grew up in Racine, Wisconsin; Managed Solution has been an extremely
on the edge of Lake Michigan. Family rewarding experience, and he has been a
skiing trips to Colorado and college sum- great partner."
mers in the mountains planted the seed As Managed Solution’s CEO, she
for how to create a life whereby you love works with many different types of
what you do and live where you love. She companies to help reduce the burden of many people think networking is about
was intentional with living and work- day-to-day IT management. The com- grandstanding or an opportunity to sell
ing in larger cities to gather skills and pany provides managed and professional their services. That doesn't always work
experiences to parlay later in her career services and technology forecasting, em- with people. It's better to be natural and
to positions that did not require living powering companies to grow their busi- authentic in your intent to establish a
in a major city. After she had earned nesses. “The depth of focus on customer friendship or professional relationship."
an MBA in General Management from care, social responsibility, and security is She is a member of VISTAGE, which is
Dartmouth, as another way to create at the core of company values, attributing an organization of professionals who are
more employment options – she moved to flourishing proliferation.” in upper management positions. She told
to Dallas, Texas to work in Finance for I asked her what advice she would me that there is a subgroup in VISTAGE
American Airlines. She would spend the give to other women who might feel their for service professionals as well, so you do
next seven years in several senior roles careers are languishing. "First, don't be not have to be a CEO or President of a
before moving to the Security & Distri- afraid to reconsider your path," Susan corporation to join.
bution Industry in San Diego. told me that she personally went through Third, she said in addition to net-
For ten years, she served as CFO a transformative process of discovery working; it was important to give back.
of Clark Security Products, skillfully about what aspects of a job were import- Ms. Kuruvilla is on the Management
ascending to become President; growing ant to her with her career counselor. She Board for the YMCA Camping Branch.
a $100+M business and garnering awards said that most people spend 50% of their “Working with the YMCA’S year-round
for Healthiest San Diego Company. She time and energy trying to look good in camping program, I have met all types of
helped to sell the business and then ran it their lives and 50% of their time trying great people from different walks of life
for five years for the public company that not to look bad. "That's such a waste of and professions.” The YMCA Camping
purchased it. Her position was eliminated time. No one is really paying that close Branch includes three camps here in San
last year which gave her time to pause in attention to you. Just show up each day Diego County: Raintree Ranch horseback
her career and refocus. “I wanted a new and focus on what needs to be done at riding camp, Camp Marston located in
position that inspired me to grow every that moment, in that day, and channel the Julian mountains and a child favorite,
day. I didn’t want to be in the passenger your energy on improving your skills and Camp Surf. "As a member of the man-
seat of my career”, she explained. Her relationships at work." agement board, I get to oversee a program
positive solution to this dilemma was, The second piece of advice she gave is that I am passionate about – kids and
“I hired a Career Counselor to help me that networking is important. She met the outdoor fun."
clarify what I wanted to do next so that I Founder of Managed Solution through I found talking to Susan Kuruvilla
would not get distracted by job offers that networking. "You never know when you very encouraging and incredibly inspir-
were not a match.” will meet that person who could help you ing. Every job is just a stepping-stone, not
Ms. Kuruvilla had to find out what step into a new career." She told me that something that defines a woman’s career
would make her excited to go to work networking doesn't just mean going to path. It’s a perspective that gives a lot of
every day. In the process of discovery, she the office or industry gatherings, it means hope to those of us who might be afraid
realized, "I am extremely curious to learn getting out into the community too. "Too to reinvent ourselves.

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