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August 2000, Volume 68, Number 4 |
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| Spreadsheet One *Surround Yourself with Good People *Being Green Works *Moore's Law Forces *Managing in Internet Time |
Spreadsheet Two *New E-Commerce Executive Program *The Bulgarian Connection *University Thanks GSB Volunteers |
Spreadsheet Three *A Plea for Victims of War *Take a Hike, Wing-Tips *Study Trip Becomes Vietnam Homecoming *New Ventures |
| People: Katherine McLennan People: Carrie Portis For The Record: Class of 2000 Commencement |
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| Photograph by John Doughty |
This July, McLennan's role as program manager of operational integration for Socog (Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games) will have her stationed in a control room, monitoring events on closed-circuit TV. In addition, McLennan has to stay on top of 40 functional areas such as cleaning, security, medical, transportation, and logistics. Her duties cover everything from keeping communication lines open to figuring out just how much toilet paper to order for some 400,000 people a day.
In 1989, after she graduated from Duke University, McLennan earned a master's degree in political science from the University of New South Wales. "When I got to Sydney, I realized that it's a great place to live; I had to figure out a way to stay," she says.
The route to Australia took McLennan back to the States for four years, first working for Booz, Allen & Hamilton out of Manhattan and then going to business school.
In 1996, McLennan learned that Socog was looking for MBAs with consulting experience, and the opportunity was just too good to pass up. At first she worked for Socog's CEO, acquiring property and establishing a budget of roughly $2 billion. After developing a three-year plan to drive the organization (which is slated to grow from 110 staffers in 1996 to 3,000 paid employees, 50,000 volunteers, and 70,000 contractors by the time the Games commence September 15), she became the program manager. "Watching this strategy come to life has been incredibly satisfying," McLennan says, "although managing the growth has been a challenge. It's been difficult to maintain consistency across venues and to keep the one Olympics from becoming 28 different world championships."
When the final medal has been awarded and the athletes and spectators have returned to their homes, McLennan will be out of a job. She's looking in the telecommunications field, but whatever the industry, one thing is sure. It will be in Australia.
— PETER CALLAHAN
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