‘Steady, decisive’: Veteran and Seagate VP Mike Leitner

Designated Military Friendly® for the fifth year in a row, Seagate deeply appreciates the experience and skills of the many veterans it employs.

One is Mike Leitner, vice president people and places operations, workplace services and sustainability.

Before beginning his long Seagate career, Leitner studied mathematics while participating in ROTC at the University of Notre Dame. With degree in hand, he was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Navy, continued his studies at the prestigious Naval Nuclear Power School and then joined the Submarine Force.

Calm under pressure: Michael Mercier, senior director global talent acquisition at Seagate and a U.S. Air Force veteran, says his colleague exemplifies “the kind of steady, decisive leadership that thrives in challenging circumstances.”

Leitner traces his methodical manner to his math degree and problem-solving traits developed in the military.

Trusting those around you. “When you come in as an officer to a ship, you are not the expert,” Leitner notes. The ones who “know the machinery inside and out” are the non-commissioned officers and enlisted crew with years of experience.

Whether in the military or at Seagate, the best leadership approach is to “trust the real experts and empower them to do their work.”

Preparing for the worst. Duty on a submarine requires “a ton of preparation for various things that might happen, including an accidental spill from the nuclear reactor.”

That’s why Leitner became a strong believer in policies and procedures. It’s not about memorizing them. It’s about understanding them well enough to connect all the dots. “That way, in an emergency, you don't have to think. You just do.”

The same applies to leading environmental safety and emergency response teams at Seagate. “When something happens, they run toward it and have to know just what to do,” explains Leitner. “At that point, there’s no time to figure it out.”

Taking corrective action. When submarine captains learn something went wrong, they demand to know “what you’re doing about it and why it would never happen again.”

In any setting, Leitner says responsibility involves having forthright answers to the questions that count: “What was supposed to happen? What did happen? What did we learn from it and how do we go on from there?”

Keeping things in perspective. Leitner recalls a boss in the Navy telling him that without detachment, “everything is a hot emergency.”

In reality, any problem could be worse. Some are more urgent than others. And few if any — even on a nuclear sub — lack solutions.

The key is calm, methodical deliberation. “In the back of my mind, I believe if there’s a problem, we can figure out how to solve it.”

Military Friendly company: Early on, Leitner wondered how a former Naval offer would fit in at Seagate. But from day one, he felt welcome. “You walk in the front door, and you’re accepted.”

And doubts about the relevance of his skills? “The things that the military taught you, that you worked on, the expertise that you have — they’ll transfer right into the business world.”

Perspective on Veterans Day: “Be thankful for those willing to sign up and doing the best that they can to keep the world safe,” says Leitner. “If you know somebody in active duty, just thank them.”

To learn more about Seagate’s workplace culture visit
https://www.seagate.com/jobs/culture/