Leading a team takes certain passion, skill, and drive. Melinda Kramer is a leader in financial services and technology management who gained her skills through her time at Northeastern University’s College of Computer and Information Science in the 1980s. While at CCIS, Kramer majored in computer science, completed three co-ops, and rowed as a coxswain on the rowing team.

Kramer knew that she wanted to pursue a career in technology and project management while completing her senior project. She and a team of fellow computer science students developed a computer editor program that allowed a user to quickly and more easily complete rudimentary tasks such as deleting, highlighting, copying, and pasting on mainframe miniature computers. Editors of this nature had yet to exist, and Kramer said that her classmates were “ooh-ing and aah-ing.”

“In terms of leadership, the senior project was what helped me recognize what I wanted to do with my technology degree,” Kramer said. “It was then that I realized that I really liked being the project manager and I liked the brainstorming and ideation around coming up with ideas. That really helped me understand that as much as I need to know how to code, ultimately my goal would be to be in a leadership position whether it be project leadership or organizational leadership.”

Writing programs for mainframe computers was a tedious feat. Students wrote their programs on paper and then transferred the writing to punch cards, which were then submitted for execution with results printed and handed back. Kramer’s senior project predated the concept of a mouse, so everything was text based. The students wanted to find a way to line up their code and edit with speed and efficiency that wasn’t yet available.

“You would have to go to a museum to believe that this was how it really was,” Kramer said about working with the first computers. “The computer lab was where the Northeastern bookstore is [today] in the Ell building. You would write the program on paper then type it on punch cards. It was laborious, and very important to sequence the cards. You’d put them in a shoebox and take them to the computer lab and write out a request. You’d wait around for 15 minutes to an hour, and get a print out with some kind of error, and you’d have to retype the cards and do it again.”

Kramer’s work experience through her three co-ops led to her recruitment by JP Morgan after graduating from CCIS. She went on to receive her MBA from NYU, ran technology for an early stage financial technology company, and developed early internet based trading software with Goldman Sachs where she worked for seven years. She eventually followed her passion for project management by working with consulting firm Leveraged Technology, Inc. Kramer moved to Chicago in 1992 for an opportunity to work with an emerging financial technology company. She also became the chief technology officer for a global asset management firm, and founded technology start-up consulting company KloudVentures an advisement firm for start-ups and women in technology.

KloudVentures was her exit from corporate life, and an opportunity for her to do something different and entrepreneurial. One of the start-ups that she worked with is still running, and another was recently sold. She also attempted to create a portable, inflatable bike helmet that has since been discontinued. Kramer now gives back to society by participating in a variety of philanthropic and charitable endeavors. She participates in organizations such as the IL Tech Association, Women in Technology, Tech Week, Help for Children, and Impact 100. She hosts meetings in her home for Impact 100, a collective of women in the Chicago chapter that pools donations to give as grants to companies. She also works with both Tech Week and IL Tech Association to bring more women to the technology conferences and networking events.

Coxing for the Northeastern rowing team also taught her to lead a team successfully. Rowing was a sport that she knew nothing about until meeting other rowers in her who inspired her to get involved. For Kramer, leading as a coxswain was a lot like project management, and she says that learning the technique and how to manage the team helped build her passion for leadership. This year will be the 40^th anniversary of the Northeastern rowing team, and Kramer says that her teammates have been working to bring everyone back together for a reunion at Northeastern.

“It’s the whole concept of servant leadership which has become a more popular concept in the technology world,” Kramer said. “It’s about leaders who really understand and empower their people. They lead, but they don’t get in the way. They’re humble, but still provide strategy and leadership. As a coxswain you couldn’t be more of a servant leader.”

Kramer has two sons, one who studies computer science at CCIS. Staying active in the Northeastern alumni community in Chicago, Kramer introduced her son to many alums, which may have influenced his choice as Northeastern as his alma mater.

Kramer is now focused on her family, charitable work, and giving back. She sits on the board of the Illinois Technology Association (ITA) and Help For Children (HFC.org). She focuses on enabling women in technology and creating events for organizations like TechWeek and ITA.  She also hosts meetings in her home for Impact 100, a Chicago grant giving collective of women that provides $100,000 grants to social service organizations for transformative impact.

“In a leadership role you need to understand what motivates people and you need to know what they’re good at and not good at, position them for success and encourage them to make themselves better,” Kramer said. “With teams, you have to make sure that people are working together and create an environment that makes them better together. It’s the people side of things. Always fun and always challenging.”