Embracing evolution

When Ann Cramer started her
career as a systems engineer with IBM,
she was fresh out of college. Her role
with the technology giant progressed
along the normal route; and as the years
went on, she grew increasingly fond of
her community as well as her associa-
tion with IBM.

However, after having
her first child, she made the decision to
officially retire from IBM in 1979.
Essentially, Cramer wanted to devote
her time to raising her family and volun-
teering for worthy causes within the
community. “There were many leader-
ship opportunities and I wanted to give
my time,” she said.
Fast forward 10 years, Cramer was well-
entrenched within the community when
a former IBM colleague approached her
with an offer to rejoin the IBM ranks. She
graciously accepted.This time around, she
found her self in a position that effectively
married her love and passion for commu-
nity with her loyalty to IBM.

When Cramer
took the new post, she started as the
Georgia manager of external programs.As
her manager added geographic responsi-
bility, her role expanded in concert —
progressing from the Southern United
States, the Mid Atlantic South, the East and
for the past three years all of North
America. “It has been a true pleasure to
put the glow on the logo internally and
externally,” she said.“I get to interpret and
apply our value of innovations that matter
for the world ever y day.”

Today, as the North American Director
for IBM Corporate Citizenship and Com-
munity Affairs, Cramer is one of the for-
tunate few who can actually live out her
passion through her corporate position.
Her current role includes overseeing
numerous components of internal and
external relationships such as managing
contributions, relations with nonprofits
and political leaders, volunteer employ-
ee engagement and all corporate social
responsibility activities. “Because I have
the geographic responsibilities, I am the
innovative implementer of the extraor-
dinary, innovative solutions that IBM
develops to address societal issues,”
Cramer explained.

PHILANTHROPIC EVOLUTION

Not only has her own career evolved,
Cramer has been fortunate to see first-
hand the evolution of IBM’s philanthrop-
ic philosophy as well. Over the past two
decades, the firm has transitioned from
being primarily an international cash
contr ibution source to one that is far
more strategic in its philanthropy.
“IBM has always understood its mutu-
al responsibility to the community.After
all, it is the essence of who we are. But
we wanted to take our philanthropy a
step further,” she said.

“While maintain-
ing a major focus on education, we
changed our strategy to one of provid-
ing equipment and services in addition
to smaller amounts of cash. At first peo-
ple did not know how to respond, but
they have since accepted and
embraced that transformative
change is instrumental in
achieving progress.”
Throughout the firm’s phil-
anthropic transition, Cramer
understandably relished in wit-
nessing the level of support for
the new philosophy through-
out the organization.

“Like any
transformation, our adventure
faced challenges and had to
overcome a little opposition,” she said.
“However, the obstacles were met with
consistency in our philanthropic philoso-
phy, which was ver y affirming.”

CULTIVATING A PERSPECTIVE

As part of her unwavering commit-
ment to serve within the community,
Cramer has been honored to chair
numerous organizations — each dear
to her heart — over the years including
Georgia Partnership in Excellence in
Education, the Georgia and Metro
Atlanta chambers of commerce educa-
tion committees, World Class Schools
Foundation, the Workforce Develop-
ment Task Force for the Governor’s
Commission for a New Georgia, the
Governor’s Child Protective Services
Task Force as well as the Governor’s
Commission on Children and Youth.

Simply put, Cramer thoroughly appreci-
ates the power within a community to
create and foster a climate where every
child can succeed.
Most recently, playing an active role
in this arena has come to fruition
through chairing Voices for Georgia
Children. “With this group I have the
opportunity to work across the disci-
plines all of education — safety, health,
P-20 education, connected, and employ-
able – and truly contribute.

I am always
humbled by how much people within
the community give of themselves,” she
said. “It is the collective force that has
made the difference.This is why it is so
frustrating when people close the door
— thinking that their voice does not
count. The truth is that we are always
better together.“
Looking forward, the faith-based
Cramer tells Women’s Enterprise that
she openly welcomes whatever the
future brings. “I will be eager to seize
the next challenge and enjoy each
opportunity,” she said.