Kris Harrison: Pioneering Digital Product Solutions at Leonardo
In the dynamic world of engineering and digital innovation, certain individuals stand out as true visionaries. Kris Harrison is one such leader, an award-winning engineer at Leonardo, a global high-tech company in Aerospace, Defence and Security. As the UK Engineering Innovation Lead for Support and Service Solutions (S3), Kris Harrison is at the forefront of driving digital transformation, leveraging cutting-edge methodologies like Agile and Design Thinking to deliver impactful, customer-centric product solutions. Her journey, spanning over two decades with the company, exemplifies a profound commitment to technological advancement, strategic leadership, and nurturing the next generation of engineering talent.
Since joining Leonardo in 2002 as a graduate electronics engineer, Kris Harrison has carved an impressive career path, continually adapting to evolving technological landscapes and taking on increasingly pivotal roles. Her expertise isn't just theoretical; it's forged in the practical crucible of electronic circuit design, product integration, environmental qualification, and multi-disciplinary engineering management. This rich, hands-on experience forms the bedrock of her innovative leadership today, where she spearheads the development of digital products that are redefining customer engagement and operational efficiency.
The Architect of Digital Transformation: Kris Harrison's Innovation Leadership
As the UK Engineering Innovation Lead within Leonardo's S3 line of business, Kris Harrison is orchestrating a significant shift towards data-driven digital solutions. She leads a diverse and highly skilled team whose talents span the breadth of modern technology and business strategy – from data science and application development to meticulous business analysis and empathetic customer-focused design. Together, they are designing and delivering a sophisticated suite of digital products, including intuitive web and mobile applications, for both internal stakeholders and external customers.
The core objective of these digital products is clear: to create an enhanced experience for customers, partners, and suppliers. Kris Harrison's vision extends beyond mere functionality; it's about empowerment. These applications automate critical data acquisition, deliver real-time visual insights accessible anytime and anywhere, and establish seamless, end-to-end supply chain integration. The strategic importance of such initiatives cannot be overstated. In today's competitive landscape, businesses that can rapidly harness data, provide immediate insights, and streamline complex processes gain a decisive advantage. Kris Harrison's leadership ensures Leonardo remains at the cutting edge, offering solutions that not only solve immediate problems but also anticipate future needs. Her work is a testament to the power of Digital Transformation: Kris Harrison's Innovation Leadership at Leonardo, setting new benchmarks for efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Consider the practical implications: a customer needing critical insights into equipment performance can access real-time dashboards on their mobile device, preventing potential downtime and optimizing maintenance schedules. A supplier can seamlessly integrate their systems with Leonardo's, reducing administrative overhead and accelerating collaboration. These are not just incremental improvements; they represent a fundamental reimagining of how Leonardo interacts with its ecosystem, all driven by the innovative spirit under Kris Harrison's guidance.
Agile & Design Thinking: The Dual Engine of Product Development
In the fast-paced realm of digital development, stagnation is not an option. Kris Harrison and her team thrive on this challenge, embracing methodologies that prioritize speed, adaptability, and, most importantly, the customer. Her approach is firmly rooted in two powerful frameworks: Design Thinking and Agile methodology.
Design Thinking: Understanding the Customer's World
At the outset of any project, Kris Harrison emphasizes Design Thinking. This human-centered approach begins with deeply understanding the customer. "We work closely with our customers," Kris explains, highlighting her regular Design Thinking workshops. These sessions are not just brainstorming exercises; they are immersive engagements designed to uncover the genuine pain points and challenges customers face in their daily work. The focus is on empathy – truly understanding what causes problems and where new value can be added. The insights gathered from these workshops are invaluable, forming the fundamental basis for all subsequent product development. It's about moving beyond assumptions and truly listening, ensuring that every digital solution addresses a real, pressing need.
- Empathize: Deeply understand the user's needs, problems, and desires.
- Define: Clearly articulate the core problem to solve, based on user insights.
- Ideate: Brainstorm a wide range of creative solutions without judgment.
- Prototype: Build tangible representations of selected ideas (mock-ups, wireframes).
- Test: Gather user feedback on prototypes and iterate.
Practical Tip: To implement Design Thinking in your own projects, start with genuine user interviews. Don't just ask what they want; observe what they *do*. Look for inconsistencies between stated needs and actual behaviors. This often reveals deeper, unarticulated problems that a product can solve.
Agile Methodology: Iterative Innovation for Rapid Delivery
Once customer insights are clearly defined, Kris Harrison's team transitions to Agile methodology for product development. Agile is characterized by its iterative and incremental nature, allowing for rapid prototyping and continuous feedback loops. Instead of lengthy, rigid development cycles, her team develops prototypes in short, focused "sprints," constantly gathering customer feedback along the way. This iterative process ensures that the product evolves in direct response to user needs, minimizing the risk of developing solutions that miss the mark.
This approach fosters flexibility, enabling the team to quickly pivot or refine features based on real-world usage and feedback. The final stage involves transforming these validated prototypes into deliverable, secure products, a process that often involves collaboration with experts from other parts of Leonardo and external suppliers. This collaborative ecosystem ensures that the solutions are not only innovative but also robust and secure.
Actionable Advice: For teams looking to adopt Agile, start small. Focus on delivering minimum viable products (MVPs) in short cycles (e.g., 2-week sprints). Prioritize continuous communication and feedback from stakeholders. Tools like daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives are crucial for keeping development on track and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
A Journey of Growth: From Engineer to Innovation Lead
Kris Harrison's professional trajectory is a powerful illustration of continuous learning and adaptability within a complex engineering environment. Joining Leonardo's graduate programme in 2002 after studying physics at the University of Nottingham, she began her career as an electronics engineer. This foundational experience provided her with a deep understanding of the technical intricacies that underpin Leonardo's cutting-edge products.
Her career has been marked by a willingness to embrace diverse challenges, moving through various roles that have broadened her expertise considerably. From the precision required in electronic circuit design to the rigorous testing of product integration and environmental qualification, and eventually into multi-disciplinary engineering management, Kris Harrison has witnessed and influenced different elements of the engineering lifecycle. Each role offered invaluable exposure to different sites, customers, and suppliers, enriching her perspective and honing her leadership skills. This diverse experience is a cornerstone of her ability to lead a varied team and understand the complex needs of modern digital product development. It’s a compelling narrative of growth that illustrates the many pathways available within engineering, as further explored in Kris Harrison: Engineer's Career Journey & STEM Outreach at Leonardo.
A typical day for Kris Harrison is anything but routine, a reflection of the fast-moving nature of digital development. It might involve strategic planning reviews to assess team priorities and progress, or engaging in a technical brainstorming session to transform a customer idea into a tangible prototype. Regular one-to-one meetings with team members highlight her commitment to personal and technical development, fostering a culture of growth and mentorship. Furthermore, staying abreast of app and cloud technology trends requires visits to suppliers and conferences, ensuring Leonardo remains competitive and forward-thinking. Her commitment extends to frequent travel across the UK to engage directly with customers, embodying the customer-centric ethos she champions.
Beyond the Blueprint: Nurturing Future Engineers
Beyond her demanding role as an innovation leader, Kris Harrison is deeply committed to inspiring the next generation of engineers. She dedicates her time to leading Leonardo's outreach programme, collaborating with schools and educational charities to promote engineering careers to young people. This involvement is not merely an extracurricular activity; it is a passion rooted in a desire to give back and to ensure a robust pipeline of talent for the industry she loves.
Her efforts are crucial in demystifying engineering, often perceived as a daunting or exclusively male-dominated field. By engaging directly with students, Kris Harrison provides a tangible role model, demonstrating that engineering is a diverse, creative, and rewarding career path. Her insights into the exciting, problem-solving nature of engineering, combined with her own successful journey, can ignite a spark in young minds, encouraging them to consider STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects. This commitment to STEM outreach underscores her holistic view of innovation – it's not just about developing products today, but about cultivating the talent that will drive progress tomorrow.
Fact: Mentorship and early exposure to STEM fields are proven to significantly increase the likelihood of young people, especially girls, pursuing careers in technology and engineering. Leaders like Kris Harrison play a vital role in closing the skills gap and fostering diversity in the sector.
Conclusion
Kris Harrison stands as a formidable force in digital product innovation, not only at Leonardo but within the broader engineering community. Her strategic fusion of Design Thinking and Agile methodologies ensures that Leonardo's digital solutions are not just technologically advanced but also deeply responsive to customer needs. From her foundational days as an electronics engineer to her current role as the UK Engineering Innovation Lead, Kris Harrison's career is a testament to continuous growth, adaptability, and unwavering dedication. Beyond the tangible digital products and streamlined processes she helps create, her passion for inspiring young minds through STEM outreach solidifies her legacy as a true leader and a powerful advocate for the future of engineering. Kris Harrison isn't just driving digital product solutions; she's shaping the future of innovation and inspiring those who will carry it forward.