Marillyn Hewson Quotes

Powerful Marillyn Hewson for Daily Growth

About Marillyn Hewson

Marillyn A. Hewson is an influential American business executive, best known as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lockheed Martin Corporation, a global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technologies company. Born in 1958, Hewson grew up in Sioux City, Iowa, where she developed a keen interest in science and technology. She earned her Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1979 and later received an MBA from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1985. Hewson began her career at Lockheed Martin (then Lockheed Corporation) as a systems engineer in 1983. Throughout her tenure, she held various leadership positions, including President of Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Services and Executive Vice President of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, before being appointed CEO in 2013 and Chairman in 2016. Under Hewson's leadership, Lockheed Martin has continued to innovate and expand its product portfolio, while maintaining a strong commitment to ethical business practices and corporate social responsibility. Some of the company's major works during her tenure include the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet, the Orion spacecraft, and the F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft. Hewson has been recognized for her leadership and contributions to the industry. In 2017, she was named the Most Powerful Woman in Business by Fortune magazine for the third consecutive year. She is a strong advocate for women in STEM fields and serves on various boards, including the Business Roundtable, the National Academy of Engineering, and the U.S.-China Business Council. In 2018, Hewson announced her intention to retire from Lockheed Martin at the end of 2021, marking the end of a distinguished career in which she has left an indelible impact on the global aerospace and defense industry.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"You have to be able to adapt and grow, and continue to reinvent yourself."

This quote emphasizes the importance of agility, resilience, and continuous personal growth in today's rapidly changing world. Adaptation means adjusting oneself to new situations or environments, while growth is about expanding knowledge, skills, and experiences. Reinventing oneself suggests continuously evolving, adapting, and improving oneself for the future. In essence, it underscores the necessity of being open to change and embracing personal development in order to thrive in a dynamic environment.


"Success is not just about what you deliver; it's about how you build relationships along the way."

This quote by Marillyn Hewson emphasizes that success isn't solely dependent on the end result, but also on the quality of relationships built throughout the journey. In other words, the ability to forge strong, positive connections with people during the process of achieving one's goals contributes significantly to overall success. This perspective highlights the importance of empathy, collaboration, and trust in professional settings as essential components that complement technical skills and competencies.


"The key to success is a strong focus on customers, employees, and innovation, in that order."

This quote by Marillyn Hewson emphasizes three essential elements for achieving success: customers, employees, and innovation. 1. Customers: The primary focus should be on meeting the needs of the customers to ensure their satisfaction and loyalty. Customer-centric strategies help businesses remain relevant and sustainable in today's competitive market. 2. Employees: A strong emphasis on employees signifies the importance of a well-motivated, skilled, and engaged workforce that drives innovation, delivers quality services or products, and contributes to the overall success of the organization. 3. Innovation: The continuous pursuit of new ideas and methods is crucial for staying ahead in any industry. By keeping an open mind towards innovation, businesses can adapt to changing market conditions, improve their offerings, and create opportunities for growth. In essence, Marillyn Hewson suggests that a winning formula for success lies in understanding the customer's needs, investing in employees, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement through innovative thinking and practices.


"You can't always control what happens to you, but you can always control your attitude towards it."

Marillyn Hewson's quote emphasizes the power of personal perspective in dealing with life's challenges. Despite not having control over circumstances that occur, individuals possess the ability to decide their reactions or attitudes towards these events. By maintaining a positive attitude during difficult times, one can overcome obstacles more effectively and find opportunities for growth. This mindset underscores the importance of resilience and optimism in navigating through life's ups and downs.


"I believe we have an obligation to innovate, to think about the future and to invest in areas that will give us a competitive advantage while also benefiting society."

Marillyn Hewson's quote emphasizes the importance of continuous innovation, forward-thinking, and investment in promising areas for the betterment of both businesses and society. This perspective underscores the belief that successful companies should not only focus on their competitive advantage but also consider the broader societal impact of their actions. Innovation serves as a means to stay ahead in the market while contributing positively to society, striking a balance between business goals and social responsibility.


Leaders must exemplify integrity and earn the trust of their teams through their everyday actions. When you do this, you set high standards for everyone at your company. And when you do so with positive energy and enthusiasm for shared goals and purpose, you can deeply connect with your team and customers.

- Marillyn Hewson

Trust, Through, Shared, Standards

You can't forget that organizational success flows from the hearts and minds of the men and women you lead. Rather than treating your people as you'd like to be treated, treat them as they would like to be treated. Small gestures like opting for face-to-face meetings or sending personal notes can have an enormous impact on teams and their morale.

- Marillyn Hewson

Treat, Small, Notes, Impact

In times of uncertainty, employees crave clarity. As a leader, you won't always have all of the answers - no one expects you to - so you must be open to listening and learning from others. Once you understand a particular challenge and outline the options, you have to be confident in making bold and optimistic decisions.

- Marillyn Hewson

Leader, Confident, Answers, Outline

The best employees are those who bring real energy and initiative to the job. I like to know whether you're the kind of person who can set priorities, take initiative, and drive results right from the beginning.

- Marillyn Hewson

Best, Beginning, Bring, Employees

I have been in this business for over 30 years. I've seen a lot of development programmes. They don't all run smoothly.

- Marillyn Hewson

Development, Over, Been, Smoothly

If you look at the pipeline of women moving up through the organisation, it's a matter of time and experience that they develop and performance that allows them to move into senior levels.

- Marillyn Hewson

Through, Move, Them, Organisation

Good leaders organize and align people around what the team needs to do. Great leaders motivate and inspire people with why they're doing it. That's purpose. And that's the key to achieving something truly transformational.

- Marillyn Hewson

Purpose, Doing, Needs, Key

As we consume more than ever, climate change is accelerating as well. In fact, we know that 2014 was the hottest year in human history. These pressures combine to create real threats to security and stability around the world.

- Marillyn Hewson

Fact, Year, Consume, Human History

The best candidates make a strong case for themselves. They can clearly articulate why they are the best choice for the job - and they can tell me what unique qualities they bring that no one else can offer.

- Marillyn Hewson

Strong, Tell, Bring, Case

My parents met at Fort Riley, Kan., during World War II. My father was an Army civilian; he had been trampled by a horse in his youth and couldn't enlist. My mother was studying to be a nurse and, when war broke out, joined the Women's Army Corps without even telling her parents.

- Marillyn Hewson

Father, Been, Telling, Corps

The mission we are about is something that truly energises me. I feel that at Lockheed Martin we have the opportunity to make a difference... supporting men and women fighting for our peace and freedom.

- Marillyn Hewson

Opportunity, Feel, About, Supporting

President Trump recognizes that the F-35 is a very large program - the largest program in the Department of Defense. He wants to make the sure that the American taxpayer is getting the lowest possible cost on the program.

- Marillyn Hewson

Trump, Very, Largest, Department

Elected leaders in government and our men and women in uniform face a range of unprecedented challenges and pressures that demand innovative solutions.

- Marillyn Hewson

Challenges, Solutions, Range, Unprecedented

I remembered the times I'd second-guessed myself or questioned my own ability. The times when a little voice in my head worried that I didn't have the know-how or the experience to reach for an exciting opportunity.

- Marillyn Hewson

Voice, Reach, My Own, Worried

I certainly want to continue to be a role model. But I don't think it's necessarily about being a female in our business. I think it's about... my track record, my results.

- Marillyn Hewson

Think, I Think, Certainly, Track Record

My role at Lockheed Martin puts me in contact with extraordinary leaders in many fields - from science and engineering to philanthropy and government. And since we also work closely with our nation's armed forces, we tend to reflect a lot on leadership and how we can inspire successful teamwork, cooperation, and partnerships.

- Marillyn Hewson

Nation, Role, Leaders, Philanthropy

My job is to make sure that as our customers' priorities change, as the environment changes, we shift that portfolio of products to meet them.

- Marillyn Hewson

Change, Shift, Sure, Customers

If you were just to look at Lockheed Martin, you'd see a lot of women in senior roles in our company and, not only that, our customers, so I don't consider it an old boys' club.

- Marillyn Hewson

Look, Old, Roles, Customers

I was 9 years old when my father - a strong, vibrant man in his early 40s - died of a heart attack. He was such a central figure in our lives that losing him was a terrible shock to all of us, my mother in particular.

- Marillyn Hewson

Father, Strong, Died, Terrible

Leaders have to see past problems to solutions, and my mother excelled at just that.

- Marillyn Hewson

Mother, See, Excelled, Problems

Candidates need to demonstrate strategic thinking and strong problem solving skills. And, just as importantly, they need to know when and how to ask for help.

- Marillyn Hewson

Strong, Solving, Strategic, Demonstrate

Since his election, President Trump has made clear that he and his administration will be focusing on ensuring that the government is a smart buyer, getting the most for the taxpayer's dollar.

- Marillyn Hewson

Election, Will, Trump, Dollar

Sometimes, my self-doubt became self-limiting.

- Marillyn Hewson

Sometimes, Became, Self-Doubt

When the first American steps on the red dust of Mars, it's going to be because of computer scientists.

- Marillyn Hewson

Red, Computer, Going, Steps

If you look at the global security environment and how challenging and crazy that is, and it's our products that are going to help with that, I think we're a great growth story. As I look at companies in our industry, I'd bet on us.

- Marillyn Hewson

Industry, I Think, Global, Challenging

My mother did what all great leaders do: She sparked the growth of future leaders.

- Marillyn Hewson

Mother, Future, She, Growth

I do work hard, but I have a passion for work. That's just who I am.

- Marillyn Hewson

Work, I Am, Work Hard, Passion

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