Nebraska Women in STEM talked to UNO’s Martha Garcia-Murillo about how to be an effective leader.
“I do not get intimidated. In fact, I think I thrive in challenges. I thrive when things are really difficult and keep my cool.”
Dr. Martha Garcia-Murillo is the Lee D. and Willa Seemann Distinguished Dean of the College of Information Science & Technology (IS&T) at the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO). Garcia-Murillo’s role in the tech space started with a love for economics. As an undergraduate student at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, she was fascinated by a massive book on macroeconomics written by Rudi Dornbusch, an influential economist.
“I literally fell in love with that book! Don’t ask me why. I walked around with it and have it highlighted in pink. It was my inspiration and got me hooked on economics.”
She also credits an amazing economics professor, as difficult as his class may have been. His entire grade for the semester was based on the final. When she took it, she failed. She didn’t let that stop her. She had the opportunity to retake it, doubled her study efforts, and passed.
Garcia-Murillo went on to get a master’s degree in economics and a PhD in political economy and public policy at the University of Southern California. While in school, she worked as a research fellow at the Center for Telecommunications Management and focused on the impact of technology through an economics lens. She did statistical analysis of how technologies impact things like the creation of new businesses or deployment of broadband.
After graduating, Garcia-Murillo worked at several other universities in the U.S. and on projects in other countries while on sabbaticals. For instance, she spent time in Switzerland helping regulators in Central America harmonize laws so they could have telecom infrastructure at the regional level and at MIT she was working on technology convergence
In 2021, she took the position as Dean of IS&T at UNO, where the majority of her faculty are male scientists. When she first arrived, she focused on learning everything she could and began immediately to build trust. She has developed several leadership philosophies that help her find success in her position.
“The most important thing is to be able to get the trust of the people you work with. I am able to do that by being willing to accept your mistakes. I told them upfront, ‘I’m going to make decisions, and I I’m going to make mistakes. I hope you forgive me, because I know it’s going to happen. It’s the nature of being new.’”
“Sometimes I own mistakes that are not even mine. That has been helpful, because it has allowed people realize that I listen, that I do not get defensive, that I do not get angry or even look angry. I want people to feel that they can talk to me and be comfortable expressing their concerns.”
Garcia-Murillo says listening is fundamental to leadership. She advises listening in two different ways. First, put your phone away and give the person your full attention, even if it means you will have to scurry later to return calls and messages.
“I know we’re busy, and it’s ringing. Or you’re watching your watch. That makes people so uncomfortable. It makes them feel like they are not important. My phone is never really on ringer. I miss calls, and then I have to urgently address them. But that’s okay. If I’m with you, I’m with you.”
In addition to being there for people, Garcia-Murillo says listening is also critical to identifying opportunities. She was once in a meeting with leadership from FNBO in which she was there to listen in. As she heard them talk about their data, she suggested developing a Datathon for students to compete in. Not only is the Datathon thriving, FNBO has expanded it to other educational partners.
“I’m always listening for these nuggets of information. I’m listening with the lenses of my students. I’m listening with the lenses of my faculty. I’m listening with the lenses of facilities. I’m listening so that I see if I can find something that could help us work together in something that will be better.”
Garcia-Murillo stays rooted in humility, laughs during difficult times, and finds joy in seeing students, faculty, and staff grow and succeed.
“Seeing the transformation they are making in their lives, seeing them succeed, putting them in internships, and opening doors for them – that’s amazing.”